Michigan man ‘more than willing tot kill whitmer [sic],’ in latest physical threat to swing state’s Democratic governor
Published: March 11, 2023 at 1:15 pm ET
SEBEWAING, Mich. (AP) — A mentally ill Michigan man accused of making death threats on social media against Democratic politicians and members of the LGBTQ community has been charged with illegal gun possession.
Randall Berka II, 30, is accused of posting various written threats on a YouTube channel, the FBI said in a criminal complaint filed Friday in federal court in Flint.
After…
SEBEWAING, Mich. (AP) — A mentally ill Michigan man accused of making death threats on social media against Democratic politicians and members of the LGBTQ community has been charged with illegal gun possession.
Randall Berka II, 30, is accused of posting various written threats on a YouTube channel, the FBI said in a criminal complaint filed Friday in federal court in Flint.
According to the complaint, Berka – who lives in Sebewaing with his parents – said “Biden deserves to die,” a nod to President Joe Biden, and that he was “more than willing to kill Whitmer,” a nod to the Michigan governor , Gretchen Whitmer.
Berka also wrote, “I will kill anyone who tries to take my guns,” according to the FBI.
He appeared in court to hear the indictment and was returned to prison to await a March 15 detention hearing. The Federal Defense Bureau, which represents Berka, declined to comment.
Berka was involuntarily committed to psychiatric care and declared incapable of work in 2012, which bans him from possession of any guns or ammunition, the FBI said.
His mother bought four firearms for him last year but now believes he “should be arrested and put in jail,” the FBI said in the complaint.
She “doesn’t think mental health treatment works,” the FBI said.
US Attorney Dawn Ison praised Google for informing federal authorities about the threats on YouTube.
“We hope that members of the community will also be vigilant and report such behavior to law enforcement,” she said.
The case follows the February arrest of another Michigan man accused of threatening to kill Jewish state officials. Jack Carpenter III, from Tipton, was charged with hate crimes on Thursday.
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