The elderly man, whose identity remains undisclosed, was severely injured at 5:45 p.m. as he put up a Trump sign in his front yard. He is currently in critical condition suffering from a brain bleed at a local hospital.
Local law enforcement linked this attack to a series of vandalism incidents that seem to target individuals expressing support for former President Donald Trump or law enforcement.
Hancock Police Chief Tami Sleeman stated, “There is a connection between these acts, and they appear to be politically motivated.”
A Tragic Turn of Events
On Monday, the Houghton County Sheriff’s Office received a call from a 22-year-old man who wanted to confess to a crime involving an ATV within the last 24 hours.
He requested that someone come to his home in Quincy Township, where deputies found him dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The ATV suspected to be involved in the incident was also discovered, along with clothing matching the description given by witnesses.
Neither the victim nor the suspect has been officially identified by authorities. However, it is clear that the suspect was involved in three incidents on Sunday. Two involved vehicle vandalism, where the victims had displayed Trump signs or “thin blue line” stickers supporting law enforcement.
Hancock Police Investigation
The Hancock Police Department, in conjunction with the Houghton County Sheriff’s Office, Houghton Police Department, Michigan State Police, Mercy EMS, Houghton County Medical Examiner’s Office, and the FBI field office in Marquette, is conducting a thorough investigation.
