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Arrest made in DNC office shootings, tampered with Ahwatukee political signs

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Updated  October 23, 2024 12:54pm MST
Crime and Public Safety
FOX 10 Phoenix

New details on AZ man accused of political crimes

We're learning more about a man accused of shooting into the Democratic Party office in Tempe and placing political signs around the Ahwatukee area with white powder and razor blades. FOX 10s Brian Webb reports.

The Brief

    • Police say the same suspect who shot up a Democratic Party office three times also tampered with political signs in Ahwatukee.
    • The shootings happened in September and October. No one was hurt.
    • The suspect was identified as 60-year-old Jeffrey Kelly.

TEMPE, Ariz. - An arrest was made in a string of attacks on the Democratic National Committee Tempe office, as well as an incident in Ahwatukee that involved political signs and razor blades.

The news of the arrest came on Oct. 22, just hours after the Ahwatukee incident.

Police say 60-year-old Jeffrey Kelly was "arrested for hanging suspicious bags of white powder from several political signs lined with razor blades …" on Oct. 22. Investigators were seen near Chandler Boulevard and 44th Street taking down a sign that read "DEMS LIE" from a tree.

Two of the separate shooting incidents at the DNC office happened in September. The last happened in October.

No one was hurt in the incidents.

Jeffrey Kelly

Kelly is accused of unlawful discharge, shooting at a non-residential structure, terrorism and criminal damage.

According to court documents, authorities found 120 guns with 250,000 rounds of ammunition at Kelly's home, along with scopes, silencers and body armor. Guns found at Kelly's home also reportedly matched ones used in the DNC office shootings.

Police said Kelly had a machine gun in his SUV when he was arrested.

Tempe Police will release more information on the investigation during a news conference at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 23.

Arizona suspect arrested; accused of politically-related crimes

(Related) Tempe DNC office shot at for 3rd time

For the third time in less than a month, police say shots were fired at the Democratic Party office in Tempe, and a photo of the suspect's vehicle has been released.

The Source

  • The Tempe Police Department

Crime and Public SafetyArizona PoliticsNewsTempeAhwatukee Foothills2024 Election