A senior Trump supporter has been seriously injured in a “politically motivated” incident after he was hit by an SUV while placing a campaign sign in his yard.
The 80-year-old Michigan man was seriously injured Sunday after the vehicle struck him in front of his home in Hancock.
The suspect was identified Monday after he called police to confess to “committing a crime involving an ATV operator within the past 24 hours,” the statement said.
When police arrived on the scene, they found the 22-year-old driver dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Police allege the driver had vandalised two other vehicles before the collision and is involved in a total of three ‘politically motivated’ cases.
Elderly Trump supporter seriously injured in ‘politically motivated’ incident after being run over by ATV driver while placing campaign sign in his yard
Police were first called to the 1600 block of Anthony Street at 5:45 p.m. on Sunday, where they found the elderly man with serious injuries.
He was rushed to hospital, where he remains in critical condition on Tuesday.
Police said the driver of the ATV was targeting Trump and law enforcement supporters.
According to an official statement, the suspect called the police himself to report himself and asked them to “send someone to pick him up.”
“The crimes reported in the City of Hancock appear to be politically motivated, involving victims displaying Trump campaign signs, police appreciation stickers, and flags commonly known as ‘thin blue line’ paraphernalia,” the Houghton County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.
Officers searching the driver’s home found several electronic devices that are being searched by computer forensic specialists.
The suspect’s four-wheeled vehicle and clothing at the time of the incident were also found.
According to police, the driver had destroyed two other vehicles before the collision and was linked to a total of three “politically motivated” cases.
Police were first called to the 1600 block of Anthony Street at 5:45 p.m. Sunday, where they found the elderly man with serious injuries
Police stressed that there was no greater danger to the public and that the investigation was ongoing, and said they “will not tolerate violence against political candidates.”
The incident came just a week after Donald Trump survived an assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Trump supporter Corey Comperatore (50) was killed in the shooting. He died while trying to protect his wife and children.