Authorities have charged two Antifa activists with terrorism, marking a historic first in the U.S. These individuals were reportedly part of a group that amassed over 50 firearms, including homemade weapons, as per official reports.
Zachary Evetts and Cameron Arnold, who is also known as Autumn Hill, are now facing serious federal charges following the Trump administration’s recent designation of Antifa as a domestic terrorist group. The defendants’ legal teams have contested the government’s assertions vigorously.
The duo was arrested on attempted murder charges along with nine others after allegedly opening fire on local law enforcement and unarmed federal personnel outside the Prairieland Detention Center on July 4.
Federal prosecutors have detailed in the latest indictment that the alleged Antifa group, including Evetts and Arnold, was heavily armed with more than 50 firearms acquired from various cities across Texas.
According to the criminal complaint, a co-conspirator who allegedly led the group purchased and assembled numerous AR-platform rifles, distributing some of these to fellow members.
One firearm in their possession was fitted with a binary trigger, enabling it to “fire more rapidly” by discharging two rounds with a single pull of the trigger, authorities reported.
On the night of the attack, the group brought ten rifles, including the one with the binary trigger, to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility. An earlier image shared by the feds depicted some of the body armor and ammunition the group allegedly carried.
The group approached the facility, initially setting off fireworks and vandalizing vehicles, according to law enforcement.
A responding police officer was shot and injured amid the chaos, with reports indicating at least 20 rounds were directed at two unarmed federal agents who had exited the building before the assailants fled.
The complaint asserted that the group’s leader fired the weapon during the altercation.
In their communications leading up to the attack, the Antifa members exchanged numerous encrypted messages, one of which allegedly included a declaration of frustration with peaceful protests. Documents also indicated another member wrote, “Blue lives don’t matter.”
The group meticulously strategized the logistics of their attack, identifying local police stations and security cameras, as noted by prosecutors.
One member reportedly mentioned bringing a wagon for carrying armor and rifles, while the group’s leader indicated that their high-caliber weapons were intended to intimidate law enforcement.
The leader allegedly remarked that “Cops are not trained or equipped for more than one rifle, so it tends to make them back off.”
Evetts was apprehended shortly after the incident, fleeing from his red Mazda near the Prairieland Detention Center, as per federal authorities.
Arnold was arrested at the location where the attack was coordinated and was allegedly present during the event.
<pBoth Evetts and Arnold are now face charges of providing material support to terrorists, a development criticized by their legal representatives.
Patrick McLain, attorney for Evetts, stated he hasn’t seen sufficient evidence to support the grave charges against his client, asserting that Evetts was merely participating in a protest.
McLain also noted that Evetts and Arnold were singled out for the terrorism charges because they did not consent to a delay in proceedings and prefer to go to trial promptly.
“Nowhere in the communications provided to us by the government does anyone agree to engage in acts of violence,” McLain argued.
Arnold’s attorney, Cody Cofer, echoed similar sentiments, expressing that the new allegations could be perceived as an attempt to sway public sentiment rather than relying on factual evidence.
The initial allegations included anti-government propaganda and flyers containing political rhetoric, although the documents did not specifically refer to Antifa.
In September, President Trump ordered the designation of Antifa as a domestic terrorist organization, alleging that the group employs “illegal means to coordinate and execute a campaign of violence and terrorism across the nation” aimed at undermining the U.S. government.
With contributions from Post wires.
