Washington state man accused of vowing to 'kill the president'
SEATTLE—A Washington state man charged with threatening the president reportedly warned the FBI of a
“cop-killing spree…just over the hill” and said that dying “isn’t frightening…it’s peaceful…you will see.”
The suspect, Anton Caluori of Federal Way, about 20 miles south of Seattle, vowed in the same email,
“I will kill the president!!!!!” according to an affidavit filed in U.S. District Court on Wednesday.
“You can’t afford to call my bluff,” said the communique, which arrived Tuesday in the general inbox for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the affidavit says.
Caluori, 31, was charged in a criminal complaint with threatening the president and assaulting a federal agent. He made an initial appearance in federal court in Seattle, where his lawyer said she would seek a psychological evaluation. A bail hearing was set for Monday.
“Recent national events are a stark reminder that we must take these threats of death or violence seriously,” Jenny A. Durkan, U.S. attorney in Seattle, said in a statement. “This case had all the troubling ingredients: threats of violence and explosive devices, multiple weapons with hundreds of rounds and even brandishing of a weapon at law enforcement.”
In charging documents, federal authorities said that U.S. Secret Service agent Bryan Molnar and Federal Way police officer Andy Hensing on Tuesday afternoon cautiously approached the address Caluori had listed as his in the email.
It seemed clear that Caluori would be expecting them. The email commanded:
“GET HERE…NOW!!! Or [expletive] THIS PLANTE [sic]…HARD!!!”
Before going to the door, the law enforcement officers spoke with an apartment employee, who cautioned them that Caluori was a “hot head” who had “a temper.”
When they knocked, no one responded at first, but they could hear movement inside, authorities said. Hensing knocked a second time, went outside to check the front of the building, then returned. Molnar knocked a third time.
“Who is it?” someone said from inside.
“Police,” they replied.
When he opened the door, Caluori was wearing a black bandolier filled with shotgun shells around his torso, and a large black knife was affixed to it at chest level, according to the Secret Service agentÂ’s affidavit. Caluori wore a revolver in an ankle holster and held his right hand behind his back, the affidavit said.
“Show us your hands!” the officers commanded.