Tempe police arrested a suspect accused of hanging suspicious bags of white powder from several political signs lined with razor blades in Ahwatukee. The department says the same suspect is accused of three separate shooting incidents targeting the DNC office in Tempe in recent weeks.
Officials have identified the suspect accused of the crimes as 60-year-old Jeffrey Michael Kelly.
Watch an update from Tempe PD and MCAO in the player below
Kelly was arrested on charges that include unlawful discharge, shooting at a non-residential structure, terrorism, and criminal damage.
According to police documents, a silver-colored Toyota Highlander was captured on video at the scene of the DNC shootings. The suspect was believed to have fired a weapon from within the vehicle.
See ABC15's previous reporting about DNC office damage in the video player below:
Evidence collected during the investigation included .22-caliber casings that were found in Kelly's trash bin, Google searches of the DNC office location, and searches for firearm conversions and accessories.
Additional charges are still pending for the incidents involving political-themed signs and the powdery substances, according to police.
Kelly made his initial appearance in front of a judge on Wednesday morning when the state addressed its concerns about increasing violence and possible future attacks.
The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office said ATF investigators searched his home where they located more than 120 guns, more than 250,000 rounds of ammunition, body armor, a grenade launcher, and other weapon-related items.
Officials also reportedly located evidence tying him to the incidents including a vehicle seen on surveillance video and multiple license plates.
Kelly is set to appear in court again on October 29.
Expert weighs in on political violence
Paul Lenze, a political science professor at NAU, said political violence is nothing new, but it's certainly gaining attention in broadcast media and on social media lately.
"Because of the vitriol that’s been infused in our politics in the last 20 years, I think what we’re seeing is more of this us vs. them between the different sides. That we’ve lost the ability to reach a common ground," stated Lenze.
The political science professor believes limiting the amount of money allowed in politics would help everyday Americans feel more valued and heard within the two-party political system.
"They don’t feel that politicians are representing their interests. What they feel is that politicians are representing the issues of large corporations," said Lenze.
Harsh political rhetoric among politicians, and the lack of bipartisanship, lead to similar problems among American citizens, according to Lenze.
He also believes social media has become a soapbox for people to share their political views, sometimes without knowledge and fact-checking.
The professor shared, "It's okay to disagree with people. But follow that disagreement up with facts."
