Crime
25-year-old Isaac Sissel arrested after threatening to carry out shooting attack against Christians if Trump wins the election
An Ann Arbor, Michigan man has been charged with issuing a threatening communication, according to an announcement made today by United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison.
The complaint was filed in federal court, detailing the serious nature of the threat. Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), joined Ison in delivering the announcement.
The individual charged is identified as Isaac Sissel, 25, who is currently residing in Ann Arbor.
According to court records, on November 2, 2024, the FBI National Threat Operations Center in West Virginia intercepted an anonymous online message containing a detailed threat.
In the message, Sissel allegedly declared his intent to carry out an attack if the 2024 election resulted in a win for former President Donald Trump.
His message stated: “I shall carry out an attack against conservative Christian filth in the event Trump wins the election.” Sissel claimed to possess a stolen AR-15 rifle and outlined his strategy to evade law enforcement.
He allegedly added, “I have a stolen AR-15 and a target I refuse to name so I can continue to get away with my plans. Without a specific victim or ability to find the place I hid the gun, there’s not a thing the FBI can do until I complete the attack.”
FBI agents apprehended Sissel this morning, and he is expected to appear in federal court later this afternoon to face these charges.
The case is currently under investigation by the FBI Detroit Field Office, which is working to gather further details on Sissel’s plans and any other potential threats.
This incident underscores the FBI’s ongoing commitment to addressing and mitigating security threats, especially those that may disrupt public safety or target specific communities based on political outcomes.
Crime
34-year-old Augusta Fireman Spencer Johnson charged in accidental shooting of his 3-year-old son in Harlem
Johnson, a decorated firefighter from Augusta, was arrested on Friday.
A Columbia County father, Spencer Allen Johnson, 34, of Harlem, Georgia, has been charged with child cruelty after his 3-year-old son, Evan Johnson, accidentally shot himself in the shoulder with an unsecured firearm.
According to authorities, the incident occurred Thursday night when the child accessed an unsecured firearm in his father’s bedroom.
The young boy, left unsupervised, discharged the weapon, resulting in a gunshot wound to his shoulder. Fortunately, the child is expected to make a full recovery.
Johnson, a decorated firefighter from Augusta, was arrested on Friday.
He faces charges of child cruelty stemming from criminal negligence, which authorities allege caused “excessive physical pain” to his son through neglectful supervision. He is currently being held at the Columbia County Detention Center with bond set at $10,100.
The Harlem Police Department did not initially release information about the shooting. However, as rumors of the incident spread on social media, the situation was later confirmed by both WGAC’s Austin Rhodes and the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office late Friday evening.
Early Saturday morning, Harlem Police Chief issued a statement on the department’s Facebook page, stating that the case remains under investigation as new details emerge.
The Chief’s statement suggests that the full circumstances surrounding the shooting are still being determined.
In his booking photo, Johnson is seen wearing an anti-suicide smock, a standard precautionary measure taken in some detention facilities.
The incident has sparked discussions about gun safety and parental responsibility. Authorities are expected to release further information as the investigation unfolds.
Meanwhile, the Columbia County community remains concerned about ensuring proper firearm storage to prevent similar tragedies.