PROVO, Utah. An armed individual from Utah, accused of making violent threats against President Joe Biden, was fatally shot by FBI agents just hours before the president’s scheduled landing in the state on Wednesday, according to authorities.
The incident occurred at 6:15 a.m. when FBI agents were attempting to serve a warrant at the residence of Craig Deleeuw Robertson in Provo, located to the south of Salt Lake City, as stated in an FBI press release.
Sources within law enforcement, speaking to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity due to the ongoing investigation, confirmed that Robertson was armed at the time of the shooting.
Robertson had recently posted online, indicating his awareness of President Biden’s visit to Utah. In the post, he mentioned preparing a camouflage suit and cleaning a “M24 sniper rifle,” following months of graphic online threats directed at various public figures. The suspect referred to himself as a “MAGA Trumper,” referencing former President Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” slogan. He also posted threats against key law enforcement officials who were overseeing court cases related to Trump.
President Biden’s visit to Utah on Wednesday was for the purpose of discussing the PACT Act, which expanded veterans benefits, and to attend a reelection fundraiser. A White House official, requesting anonymity, confirmed that Biden had been briefed on the situation after the shooting.
Robertson’s online posts suggested that he possessed a long-range sniper rifle, several other weapons, and a “ghillie suit,” a type of camouflage gear, according to investigators’ court records. He faced three felony charges, including making threats against the president and against FBI agents involved in his investigation.
References to a “presidential assassination” were also found in Robertson’s posts, along with threats directed at Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, and New York Attorney General Letitia James.
The FBI’s investigation began following a tip from the social media platform Truth Social in March, after Robertson’s alarming posts. His account on that platform, created by Donald Trump, has since been suspended.
Further details about the shooting have not yet been released, as the FBI is currently reviewing the incident. Law enforcement personnel were seen at Robertson’s residence in Provo, where the confrontation occurred, removing items and investigating the scene.
While some neighbors were aware of Robertson’s political views and his ownership of firearms, many expressed skepticism about his ability to carry out the threats he made. Robertson was described by those who knew him as a skilled woodworker and a familiar presence in the community.
As President Biden continues his trip to the Western United States, his visit to Utah follows a stop in New Mexico, where he addressed a factory focused on wind tower production.
AP contributed to the story.
Gary P Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
