A Trump supporter in Nantahala Gorge, North Carolina, narrowly escaped a potentially fatal confrontation when an out-of-state man allegedly fired multiple rounds at his home over a political banner, highlighting growing concerns about politically motivated attacks.
Authorities report that Benjamin Michael Campbell, 38, a married accountant from Cobb County, Georgia, targeted Mark Thomas, 62, on Sept. 6 after noticing a Trump flag displayed on Thomas’s property.
Thomas, who runs a local river rafting business, captured the encounter on security cameras. Footage reportedly shows Campbell wearing a mask, exiting his Jeep Cherokee and attempting to remove the banner.
Thomas, armed with a rifle, fired warning shots to deter him. One round fired by Campbell struck a refrigerator on Thomas’s porch, narrowly missing the homeowner.
Swain County authorities arrested Campbell on Sept. 30.
He faces multiple felony charges, including assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill or cause serious injury, discharging a firearm with intent to incite fear and property damage.
He is currently held on a $70,000 bond, according to the Daily Mail.
North Carolina law classifies a Class C felony as carrying a maximum prison sentence of 17 years.
The Trump supporter emphasized that the flag belonged to his 87-year-old mother.
Despite the attack, Thomas intends to replace the banner and continue displaying political symbols, framing the incident as part of a broader pattern of threats against conservatives.
“We’re not the kind of people that are going to be intimidated,” he said, underscoring the growing tensions faced by politically active Americans.
Thomas compared the attack to the shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk just days later, warning that assaults targeting Trump supporters are becoming more frequent.
Law enforcement officials and experts note that politically charged rhetoric, online propaganda and hostile public discourse can embolden extremists to commit violent acts.
The Trump administration has pointed to mainstream media and liberal commentary labeling Trump supporters as “fascists” or “bigots” as factors that may inspire attacks.
Officials caution that ideological extremism, combined with mischaracterizations of political beliefs, poses real threats to public safety.
Authorities are investigating Campbell’s motives, including whether he has connections to organized extremist networks.
The case also raises questions about the national trend of politically motivated attacks, particularly against individuals who publicly display conservative viewpoints.
Conservative analysts argue that the escalation reflects a cultural climate in which ideological differences increasingly manifest as physical violence.
They stress the importance of vigilance, lawful self-protection and reporting suspicious activity to prevent future incidents.
While no one was injured in this case, the incident underscores the new dangers facing politically engaged Americans.
It highlights the delicate balance between exercising freedom of expression and maintaining personal safety.
Experts warn that attacks like this one are likely to continue unless broader societal and media dynamics are addressed.
This incident adds to a growing record of politically motivated assaults targeting Trump supporters and conservatives nationwide.
Authorities urge citizens to remain aware, prioritize safety and cooperate with law enforcement to mitigate the risks associated with increasingly radicalized behavior.
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