Global Courant
Two militiamen accused of plotting to shoot Border Patrol agents and illegal immigrants in an attempt to “start a war” on the southern border have been indicted by a federal grand jury.
Bryan Perry of Clarksville, Tennessee and Jonathan O’Dell of Warsaw, Missouri, have been charged in a 44-count indictment alleging that the men planned to travel to Texas to shoot at illegal immigrants crossing the U.S.- crossing Mexico.
According to the indictment, returned May 30, the pair planned to kill any Border Patrol agents who tried to stop them. The indictment charges them with seven counts of attempted murder of FBI agents and assault with a deadly weapon, three counts of assault on FBI agents, and 14 counts of using a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime.
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A Border Patrol agent walks between a gap along the U.S.-Mexico border wall in Yuma, Arizona, on June 1, 2022. The House Committee on Oversight and Accountability is asking to speak to the head of that Border Patrol sector. (Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images)
The plot allegedly began in 2022, when the two men attempted to recruit other men to join their self-proclaimed 2nd Amendment militia and launched a recruiting event to do so, before using O’Dell’s residence as a staging area – collecting firearms , ammunition and other supplies.
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Perry posted a number of videos online on TikTok, saying that Border Patrol committed treason by letting illegal immigrants into the US and that the pair were “ready to go to war against this government.” He also said they “went hunting” and headed for the border in October. He also said that “we are out to shoot to kill” and “our group is going to protect this country”.
By then, prosecutors said the men had six rifles, 23 magazines filled with ammunition, body armor, sniper mounts, explosive mixtures and other supplies. Perry also had a phone conversation saying they were in the process of “starting a war”, shooting people who crossed the border and any “federal agents” who oppose them.
When the FBI tried to take them into custody, officers were fired upon and the main vehicle was hit several times. Prosecutors say Perry fired 11 rounds from his rifle. Officers did not return fire and later made their arrest.
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The two men are in federal custody without bail after having separate detention hearings. A court ruled that they pose a danger to the community.
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Border Patrol agents are now in their third year dealing with a migrant crisis. On Friday, the agency announced that Jason Owens, the sector chief in Del Rio Sector, would replace outgoing Border Patrol Chief Raul Ortiz.
Adam Shaw is a political reporter for Fox News Digital, primarily covering immigration and border security.
He can be reached at [email protected] or at Twitter.
