More On: Nicholas Roske
FBI raids the residence of Nicholas Roske, the man accused of attempting to assassinate Brett Kavanaugh
Nicholas Roske, who has been accused with attempting to kill Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, had his California house raided by FBI officials.
After securing a search warrant, federal agents converged on the Roske family's one-story residence in Simi Valley on Wednesday night and kicked down the front door.
Neighbors informed ABC 7 Eyewitness News that the agents were also combing the neighborhood and interrogating Roske.
"They were always wonderful folks, so it's more of a surprise," neighbor Zach Quadri said of Roske's family to CBS News.
Roske was apprehended outside Kavanaugh's home in Montgomery County, Maryland, earlier Wednesday with a bag and suitcase containing a Glock 17 pistol, ammo, a knife, tactical gear, pepper spray, and other materials such as zip ties, a hammer, a screwdriver, and duct tape.
After dialing 911 and informing the operator he was experiencing "suicidal thoughts" and had a handgun in his suitcase, the 26-year-old was caught.
According to a US Justice Department press release, Roske also told the emergency communications dispatcher that he "went from California to Maryland to kill a specific Supreme Court Justice."
The suspect faces up to 20 years in jail if convicted of one count of attempting to murder or kidnap a US judge.
According to court documents, Roske told investigators that he “began thinking about how to give his life purpose and decided that he would kill the Supreme Court Justice.”
Roske expressed his displeasure with the Supreme Court's leaked draft judgment suggesting the court's intention to overturn Roe v. Wade. According to an affidavit, he was also furious about the recent school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, and feared Kavanaugh would vote to weaken gun control laws.
"Obviously, this kind of behavior will not be tolerated," Attorney General Merrick Garland told reporters on Wednesday. "Threats of violence against justices, as well as real violence against justices, strike at the heart of our democracy, and we will do everything we can to avoid them and hold those who perpetrate them accountable."
During the 10-minute hearing in federal court in Greenbelt, Maryland, Roske halted numerous times while replying to standard questions from US Magistrate Judge Timothy Sullivan.
When asked if he knew what was going on and if he was thinking clearly, Roske paused before responding, "I think I have a good knowledge, but I wouldn't say I'm thinking clearly."
Roske stated that he is on medication, but he did not specify what it is or why he is taking it. He also stated that he has a college diploma.
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