09 August 2023 , 20:55
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A Utah man accused of making threats against United States president Joe Biden was shot and killed by FBI agents hours before the president was expected to land in the state, authorities said.
Special agents were trying to serve a warrant on the home of Craig Deleeuw Robertson in Provo, south of Salt Lake City, when the shooting happened at 6:15am, the FBI said in a statement.
Robertson posted online on Monday that he had heard Mr Biden was coming to Utah and he was planning to dig out his camouflage suit and “clean the dust off the m24 sniper rifle."
Robertson posted online Monday that he had heard Biden was coming to Utah and he was planning to dig out a camouflage suit (Susan Walsh/AP/REX/Shutterstock)Just two days ago Robertson posted on social media: “Hey FBI, you still monitoring my social media? Checking so I can be sure to have a loaded gun handy in case you drop by again”.
The posts indicated he did appear to own a long-range sniper rifle and numerous other weapons, as well as camouflage gear known as a “ghillie suit”, investigators said in court records.
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Just two days ago Robertson appeared to taunt the FBI on social media
The suspect appeared to own a number of firearmsRobertson also referenced a “presidential assassination” and made other threats against Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, US Attorney General Merrick Garland and New York Attorney General Letitia James, court documents state.
“The time is right for a presidential assassination or two. First Joe then Kamala!!!” authorities say Robertson wrote in a September 2022 Facebook post included in the filings.
No attorney was immediately listed for Robertson in court documents. Additionally, no further details were immediately released about the shooting, which is under review by the FBI.
FBI officials and other law enforcement officers stand outside the home of Craig Robertson (Getty Images)Mr Biden is in the middle of a trip to the Western United States. He spent Wednesday in New Mexico, where he spoke at a factory that will produce wind towers, and is scheduled to fly to Utah later in the day.
On Thursday, he is expected to visit a Veterans Affairs hospital to talk about the Pact Act, which expanded veterans benefits, and hold a reelection fundraiser.