HANCOCK CITY, MI - In Hancock City last Sunday, an 80-year-old man, installing a sign showing his support for Republican Presidential nominee, 45th President Donald J. Trump, was run over by a suspect riding an ATV.
The suspect, later identified as 22-year-old Joshua Kemppainen, then reportedly died by suicide from a single self-inflicted gunshot wound. This, after sending a message via a third party to Hancock City Police that he wanted to confess to the crime that Sheriff's officials called "politically motivated."
The Post Millennial reported that the hit and run occurred when Kemppainen pulled out the signs from the victim's yard and sped off. When the older man stepped outside to put the signs back up, he was deliberately run over with the ATV, which was later recovered by police.
A press release issued by the Houghton County Sheriff's Office described the unusual situation, writing, "The Hancock City Police Department had received a message from an individual at that address who had stated that they want to 'confess a crime involving an ATV driver within the last 24 hours', and further to 'send someone to pick me up'. Officers and Deputies arrived on scene and discovered a 22-year-old male suspect on scene. The male individual was found deceased with a single self-inflicted gunshot wound."
In a Facebook post from the Hancock City Police Department (HCPD), officials described the suspect as "thin build with possible dreadlocks or long hair."
The Sheriff's Office statement implied that the incident was one of multiple crimes reported in the city, saying, "The crimes reported in the city of Hancock appear to be politically motivated, involving victims who displayed Trump election signs as well as law enforcement appreciation stickers and flags commonly referred to as 'thin blue line' paraphernalia."
HCPD, in an accompanying release, explained that the incident involving the 80-year-old victim left him hospitalized and in critical condition and that this was one of three incidents.
Chief of Police Tami Sleeman released this statement, saying, “It is believed that the person driving the ATV is involved in all three incidents. Be aware, the subject appeared to target both Trump and Law Enforcement supporters.”
The victim was released Wednesday evening from the hospital and is recovering at home.
The suspect, later identified as 22-year-old Joshua Kemppainen, then reportedly died by suicide from a single self-inflicted gunshot wound. This, after sending a message via a third party to Hancock City Police that he wanted to confess to the crime that Sheriff's officials called "politically motivated."
The Post Millennial reported that the hit and run occurred when Kemppainen pulled out the signs from the victim's yard and sped off. When the older man stepped outside to put the signs back up, he was deliberately run over with the ATV, which was later recovered by police.
A press release issued by the Houghton County Sheriff's Office described the unusual situation, writing, "The Hancock City Police Department had received a message from an individual at that address who had stated that they want to 'confess a crime involving an ATV driver within the last 24 hours', and further to 'send someone to pick me up'. Officers and Deputies arrived on scene and discovered a 22-year-old male suspect on scene. The male individual was found deceased with a single self-inflicted gunshot wound."
In a Facebook post from the Hancock City Police Department (HCPD), officials described the suspect as "thin build with possible dreadlocks or long hair."
The Sheriff's Office statement implied that the incident was one of multiple crimes reported in the city, saying, "The crimes reported in the city of Hancock appear to be politically motivated, involving victims who displayed Trump election signs as well as law enforcement appreciation stickers and flags commonly referred to as 'thin blue line' paraphernalia."
HCPD, in an accompanying release, explained that the incident involving the 80-year-old victim left him hospitalized and in critical condition and that this was one of three incidents.
Chief of Police Tami Sleeman released this statement, saying, “It is believed that the person driving the ATV is involved in all three incidents. Be aware, the subject appeared to target both Trump and Law Enforcement supporters.”
Prior to Kemppainen's death, Sleeman told TV6. “Around 4:45 pm, we had reports of vandalism to two vehicles where the tire valves were broken off and another one, they had smashed all the windows out and tried to do the same [act]...with the vehicle tires.”A psycho on an ATV has been t*rr*rizing the town of Hancock, Michigan. He ran over an 80-year-old man and was involved in a string of crimes.
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) July 23, 2024
Police say the attacks are politically motivated and he’s targeting Trump supporters.
You probably won’t see this story on the MSM. pic.twitter.com/t5Jn222XbM
The victim was released Wednesday evening from the hospital and is recovering at home.
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Comments
2024-07-29T17:00-0500 | Comment by: Eric
I take great pleasure in knowing the perp is in hell.
2024-07-30T13:34-0500 | Comment by: Laurence
Self-inflicted elimination from society. Good riddance.