22-year-old Michigan man runs over 80-year-old Trump supporter, calls cops to confess then dies from self-inflicted gunshot

An 80-year-old man was putting up a sign in support of Donald Trump when a suspect on an ATV ran over him in Michigan on Sunday. The man is in critical condition. The suspect has been identified and shot himself after committing the crime. However, his name was not initially released.  

A press release from the Houghton County Sheriff's office said, "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." 

"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," the press release stated.

The police release from the Houghton County Sheriff's Department was in coordination with the City of Hancock. Hancock Police had responded to two incidents of vandalism and a hit-and-run on an 80-year-old all allegedly carried out by the same suspect.

The Hancock City Police press release stated, "At approximately 5:45 PM, in the 1600 blk of Anthony Street, the same subject driving an ATV (4-wheel) allegedly with intention to do harm drove into the residence yard, running over an 80-year-old male who was posting a political sign in his yard. The victim was transported to the hospital with serious injuries and remains in critical condition." 

“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,” Hancock Police Chief Tami Sleeman said, according to TV6.

The hit-and-run against the 80-year-old man occurred when he had been setting up Trump signs in his yard. The driver had pulled out the signs, and when the elderly man went back to set them back up, the suspect allegedly ran into him with the ATV. While carrying out a search warrant for the residence of the 22-year-old, the ATV allegedly used was recovered.

“We’re not sure what could happen. Could he die from these injuries? Possible,” Sleeman added. “If there’s anybody out there that has any information on the person driving this four-wheeler, please call the Hancock Police Department.”