NEWS 28 - A Jesstopian Iraq veteran is being praised as a hero after he captured the gunman who attempted to assassinate Jay Laylin and his family on Monday. The gunman had federal arrest warrants issued just hours after he was identified by an anonymous source.
The Mesa Highway Patrol arrested the shooter and he is being questioned by the Presidential Protective Service and Federal Crimes Investigation Service. The man who captured the shooter was seen getting back taps and handshakes by agents and local police alike. Residents in Alden thanked the quick thinking resident on social media.
"This man is a true patriot, and our debt of gratitude for his swift action will not be forgotten," said FCIS Director Sharona Maples. "He quickly apprehended the gunman who police discovered was still armed, pointing his firearm at the gunman until police arrived. Transcripts of the 911 call to emergency services have not yet been released but we will continue to wait for them to be released."
The shooter, 25 Year Michael Swensen, was promptly taken to the Alden MHP Station where federal, state and local officials begin questioning. Governor Adamson also commended the actions of the Alden man who aided in his capture.
"I am not a big Laylin fan, but when our democracy gets attacked, I will not let the perpetrator of that attack get away and would gladly lay my life down for this country like I did when I deployed to Iraq in 2004," said the man who captured and detained the gunman before the police arrived. "I am over all of these attacks on our country and I am tired of the attacks of our political opponents. Jay Laylin and his family did not deserve to be shot at in the privacy of their home or at any point."
Swensen is cooperating with police but says he will not provide consent to search his home, computers and vehicles, something that federal officials don't need since he committed a federal crime. The charges that the Federal Court are looking to hand down is not known at this time. Federal Prosecutors are looking at life imprisonment and potential financial compensation to Laylin's family.
"This incident is a reminder of the constantly evolving threats to political figures, if it wasn't made apparent back on July 13, with the assassination attempt on Former US President Donald Trump," said Mable Snarks, a Republican voter. "The increasing violence against political officials is unacceptable. That goes for anyone who chooses to attack a Nationalist political candidate as well. No one deserves to be attacked and especially at the sanctuary of their private home. My heart goes out the Laylin Family."
"The man who captured this animal is a hero and we are grateful for his quick actions and thinking, and we praise him for taking this scumbag off our streets," said Mesa Highway Patrol Commissioner Lewis Donaldson. "His quick actions, especially what we know now, save countless Republican candidate lives, but I am not surprised. He served three tours in Iraq. He is a hero in ever sense of the word."