Results 1 to 5 of 5

Thread: Feds arrest man in apparent plot to storm an LDS temple

  1. #1

    Feds arrest man in apparent plot to storm an LDS temple

    Feds arrest man in apparent plot to storm an LDS temple

    By Ben Winslow

    Deseret News
    Published: Thursday, Feb. 12, 2009 1:09 a.m. MST

    Federal authorities have arrested a man they allege was planning to storm the LDS Church's Jordan River Temple and start shooting people.

    Benjamin Speakman, 27, was charged with a single count of possession of an unregistered sawed-off shotgun. In a complaint filed in U.S. District Court late Tuesday and obtained by the Deseret News, Midvale police were called to Valley Mental Health's facility on Feb. 2 and told by an employee that Speakman had showed up and told them "he was in possession of a pistol and a shotgun and was planning to kill himself and others."

    Gregory Hopkins, an agent with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, wrote in a probable cause affidavit that officers spoke to Speakman, who gave them the keys to his pickup. Officers found a handgun and two loaded magazines in the center console and the sawed-off shotgun behind the driver's seat.

    "Benjamin Speakman told the officer he thought about shooting his wife and mother-in-law," Hopkins wrote. "Benjamin Speakman told the officer he was planning to go into an LDS temple and start shooting people in the temple with his AK-47 and then shoot himself with the shotgun."
    Story continues below

    Midvale police called Speakman's mother-in-law, who said she had found a shotgun and an AK-47 in their home. Inside a gym bag, ATF agents say they found the AK-47, loaded magazines, knives and a carrier to hold the magazines.

    Under questioning, the ATF said he told investigators he had been having suicidal thoughts ever since he quit school on Jan. 12.

    "Benjamin Speakman stated he had planned on killing his wife and then killing his mother-in-law at their residence. He was then going to go to the Jordan Temple and fight his way into the temple to the celestial room where he planned to kill himself with the shotgun," Hopkins wrote. "Benjamin Speakman was asked if he was planning on shooting anyone at the temple and he said yes."

    Speakman was originally held under a medical watch at a local hospital, where charging documents said he was undergoing an evaluation. During an appearance in U.S. District Court on Wednesday, he spoke softly with U.S. Magistrate Judge David Nuffer, who appointed him a defense attorney.

    "Your honor, we anticipate a grand jury indictment next Wednesday," assistant U.S. attorney Carol Dain told the judge.

    Speakman's attorney sought his medical records pending an upcoming arraignment on Feb. 20. Nuffer ordered Speakman held in U.S. Marshal's custody until then. He is being held in the Davis County Jail without bail.

    Members of Speakman's family sat in court, weeping through the brief proceedings. They declined to comment as they left the courthouse.

    A spokesman for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints also declined to comment, citing the ongoing law enforcement investigation, but federal prosecutors said the threat was serious enough they felt it necessary to seek a criminal charge.

    "We felt like something needed to be done immediately," said U.S. Attorney's spokeswoman Melodie Rydalch.


    http://deseretnews.com/article/0,5143,705284609,00.html

  2. # ADS
    Circuit advertisement
    Join Date
    Always
    Location
    Advertising world
    Posts
    Many
     

  3. #2
    Benjamin Speakman, 27, was charged with a single count of possession of an unregistered sawed-off shotgun. In a complaint filed in U.S. District Court late Tuesday and obtained by the Deseret News, Midvale police were called to Valley Mental Health's facility on Feb. 2 and told by an employee that Speakman had showed up and told them "he was in possession of a pistol and a shotgun and was planning to kill himself and others."
    Scary story. But I wonder if he wasn't seeking help by showing up at the facility. I don't think he intended to go through with it.

  4. #3
    Always keep your temple recommend in the same pocket as your concealed carry permit. And always keep your gun in the same bag as your temple clothes.

  5. #4
    My friend sent me this link yesterday...they served in the same mission, same district in the mission at one point. He said he was a it of a weird dude then...apparently that hasn't changed.

  6. #5
    LOL Anti Mormons

Similar Threads

  1. Self Arrest
    By rover in forum Climbing, Caving & Mountaineering
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 02-16-2010, 08:10 AM
  2. Road war ruling favors the feds
    By stefan in forum Environmental Issues
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 05-28-2008, 01:15 PM
  3. Town wants to arrest Bush and Cheney
    By chickenlicken in forum The Political Arena
    Replies: 10
    Last Post: 01-29-2008, 07:42 PM
  4. Terror plot to blow up JFK is foiled
    By Sombeech in forum General Discussion
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: 06-05-2007, 06:51 AM
  5. U.S.: Airline terror plot 'close to execution'
    By derstuka in forum General Discussion
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 08-10-2006, 08:44 AM

Visitors found this page by searching for:

Outdoor Forum

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •