Man Claiming to Be Charlie Kirk’s ‘Martyr’ Allegedly Threatened to Shoot Up Gay Bar in Slain Activist’s Name
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NEED TO KNOW
- A week after the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, a man allegedly threatened to shoot up a gay bar to “send a message” to the far-left
- Kirk was killed at a college campus in Utah while on a tour for Turning Point USA
- Treven Michael Gokey allegedly told police he wanted to be a “martyr” for Kirk
An Arizona man is under arrest on terrorism charges after allegedly telling police he threatened to shoot up a gay bar because he was angry over last week’s slaying of Charlie Kirk.
Treven Michael Gokey, 49, was arrested on Wednesday, Sept. 17, by Phoenix police responding to a welfare check after he allegedly made threats over a crisis hotline that he would shoot up a gay bar, AZ Family, FOX 10 and 13 News reported, citing court documents.
Gokey alleged told police he had targeted Cruisin’ 7th, a popular LGBTQ bar near his home, because he was “triggered by political events,” per court documents cited by AZ Family.
He allegedly said he “was a martyr for Charlie Kirk,” claiming Kirk himself was a martyr, per court documents cited by all three outlets.
Police further accuse him of making statements such as “radical left violence breeds a far-right response” and that he wanted to “send a message” specifically to the far left, the outlets reported.
He also allegedly made transphobic and homophobic comments to police, some seeming to allude to harming the transgender community, 13 News reported, citing court documents.
Phoenix Police Department
Kirk was shot on the Utah Valley University campus in Orem, Utah, on Sept. 10, while on a Turning Point USA rally tour.
Tyler Robinson was arrested on Sept. 12 in connection with the shooting and has been charged with aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury and obstruction of justice. He faces the death penalty if convicted of the top count.
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Gokey has been charged with making a terrorist threat, per authorities, the outlets reported.
He is also facing an additional charge of using a computer to threaten, AZ Family and 13 News reported, citing court documents. He is being held on $250,000 bond.
It wasn’t immediately clear if he has entered pleas or retained attorneys to speak on his behalf.
Credit to Nypost AND Peoples
