Fugitive accused of threatening to shoot Trump on Facebook arrested after huge manhunt
Shawn Richard Christy was the subject of an ongoing manhunt before he was arrested for making threats to kill the US president on social media
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A Pennsylvania man who threatened to “put a bullet” in President Donald Trump’s head and then evaded the police for three months by surviving in the wilderness was arrested Friday in Ohio, authorities said.
The fugitive, Shawn Richard Christy, 26, was captured in Mifflin Township, just outside Columbus, according to the US Marshals Service.
Christy, a self-described survivalist, had evaded the authorities since June by stealing supplies and living in wooded areas. The manhunt intensified this week after authorities found a truck, which they believed Christy had stolen, in Mansfield, Ohio, about 70 miles northeast of Columbus.
Christy, of McAdoo, Pennslyvania, had failed to appear in court for an aggravated assault trial and was charged with violating his probation, authorities said.
On 19 June, a federal warrant was issued for Christy’s arrest after he wrote a post on Facebook that threatened John M. Morganelli, the district attorney of Northampton County, Pennslyvania, and Trump.
“Keep it up Morganelli, I promise I’ll put a bullet in your head as soon as I put one in the head of President Donald J. Trump,” he wrote, according to the authorities.
Soon, he had the Marshals Service, the FBI and the Secret Service on his trail.
But Christy used his skills as a “bushcrafter,” or someone skilled in wilderness survival, to stay on the run, authorities said. He made a habit of stealing and ditching vehicles on his travels, which took him to Kentucky, Maryland, New York, West Virginia and as far north as Canada, according to the Marshals Service.
Christy had also stolen firearms, the authorities said.
“With the threats and the theft of firearms, there’s certainly potential for a confrontational conclusion, which is what we do not want,” Robert Clark, a supervisory deputy U.S. marshal, had said in an interview this week. “We’re just hoping that this investigation can come to a safe conclusion.”
Authorities had offered a $20,000 reward for information leading to Christy’s arrest.
The New York Times
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments