Silent Witness tip leads to arrest in Tempe DNC office shootings
Ahwatukee man held on $500K cash bond
A 60-year-old man was arrested in connection with a series of shootings at a Democratic National Committee office after a tip from Silent Witness helped point Tempe detectives toward the suspect, …
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POLICE
Silent Witness tip leads to arrest in Tempe DNC office shootings
Ahwatukee man held on $500K cash bond
(City of Tempe)
From right: Tempe Police Chief Kenneth McCoy, Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell, Asst. Chief Jim Sweig and Cmdr. John Giltinan attend a news conference Oct. 23 in Tempe.
Posted
INDEPENDENT NEWSMEDIA
A 60-year-old man was arrested in connection with a series of shootings at a Democratic National Committee office after a tip from Silent Witness helped point Tempe detectives toward the suspect, police said Wednesday.
On Tuesday, Tempe police detectives arrested Jeffrey Michael Kelly of Ahwatukee in connection with the three incidents at the Democratic National Committee office, 1425 W. Southern Ave.
The first shooting occurred in the early-morning hours of Sept. 16 when police said a BB gun was used. Authorities stated in a release that the shootings “escalated to real gunfire in the early morning hours of Sept. 23 and again on Oct. 6.”
No one was injured.
After a silver SUV was identified on surveillance videos, Tempe police detectives worked with Silent Witness to put out a description of the vehicle and offer a reward for relevant information.
“Ultimately, it was a tip to Silent Witness that helped point detectives toward Kelly. The tipster noted Kelly was identified as a suspect in 2022, for stealing political signs in Phoenix, driving a silver SUV,” the release stated.”
This week, investigators also observed Kelly posting “anti-democratic signs in Ahwatukee, attaching clear plastic baggies containing a white powdery substance labeled, ‘BIOHAZARD.’”
Kelly was arrested without incident on several charges and is currently being held on a $500,000 cash bond. In the case bond is posted, a judge ordered electronic monitoring. Charges include:
• Three counts of terrorism.
• Three counts of criminal damage.
• Two counts of shooting at nonresidential structure.
• Two counts of unlawful discharge.
There may be additional charges regarding the posting of political signs with white powder attached, police said.
“Justice does not have a political party,” Tempe Police Chief Kenneth McCoy said Tuesday during a news conference.
“The Tempe Police Department will uphold the law and protect everyone, no matter their political affiliation. There is no room in the City of Tempe for political threats or intimidation.”
We’d like to invite our readers to submit their civil comments on this issue. Email AZOpinions@iniusa.org.
