Man Indicted for Shooting Democratic Office Now Facing New Felony Charges Over White Powder Signs

A man previously indicted for shooting at a Democratic National Committee office in Tempe is now facing new charges for allegedly posting anti-Democratic signs equipped with razor blades and bags of white powder. Jeffrey Michael Kelly, 60, has been linked to four separate incidents of political violence.

Authorities allege that Kelly was plotting a mass casualty event in Arizona, evidenced by a search of his home, which revealed an arsenal of 120 guns, 250,000 rounds of ammunition, body armor, and even a grenade launcher.

Kelly is accused of targeting the Democratic office on three occasions between September and October. Tempe Police reported that he began the attacks with a CO2 powered gun but escalated to .22 caliber firearms, discharging over 20 rounds and damaging the building late at night. Police were tipped off about his possible involvement after releasing images of his vehicle, previously linked to thefts of Democratic yard signs.

Surveillance revealed Kelly placing inflammatory signs with messages such as “Dems kill Jews” and “Dems Lie.” Attached to these signs were razor blades and bags labeled “biohazard,” accompanied by a disturbing provocation: “F*** you! Play stupid games win stupid prizes! Guess the poison.”

Initially indicted on terrorism charges for the shootings, Kelly has since been charged with four counts of “unlawful use of a biological substance or radiological agent,” a class 2 felony. The indictment highlights his intent to frighten and harass the public with the simulated infectious materials.

Kelly’s attorney, Jason Squires, characterized his client as a “sportsman” with legally obtained firearms. The defense also noted that Kelly frequented a gun range where Squires had previously represented militia members. The Arizona Mirror uncovered a LinkedIn profile suggesting Kelly previously held a job at Honeywell, where he had top-secret clearance until 2020.

Further scrutiny into Kelly’s background revealed a history of promoting conspiracy theories, including the discredited birtherism claims regarding former President Barack Obama. On January 6, 2021, as the Capitol was under siege, he showcased his alignment with the “Stop The Steal” movement on social media.

Recent warnings from the Department of Homeland Security indicate that connections exist between election deniers and planned acts of violence, including potential attacks on ballot drop boxes.

A probable cause statement discloses that Kelly is under investigation for two federal cases. Evidence includes Google searches for the DNC office’s address. Authorities expressed concerns that he possesses the resources to commit further acts of terrorism and frequently travels across state lines.

Kelly’s indictment notes his financial capacity and access to a substantial cache of firearms, leading to a $1 million cash bond: $500,000 for the terrorism charges and another $500,000 for the recent biological agent charges. Despite claims from his attorney that he did not own the vehicle associated with these incidents, police found it on Kelly’s property, covered and recently cleaned, with expired out-of-state license plates linked to the crime.

Investigation efforts also unveiled evidence that Kelly researched weapon modifications and silencers. Additionally, spent ammunition recovered from Kelly’s trash matched the caliber used in the DNC office shootings.

Kelly is scheduled to appear in court on November 5.