Paul J. Gavenonis, 74, of Spring Township, a registered Democrat who uses she/her pronouns, has been charged with misdemeanor counts of terroristic threats and disorderly conduct.
Pennsylvania police arrested a trans-identified male suspect on terrorism charges after allegedly threatened to kill former President Donald J. Trump at his Penn State University rally on Saturday, the Lexington Herald Leader reported.
Paul J. Gavenonis, 74, of Spring Township, a registered Democrat who uses she/her pronouns, has been charged with misdemeanor counts of terroristic threats and disorderly conduct. Gavenonis was taken into custody on Friday and booked into the Centre County Correctional Facility. Gavenonis is being held without bail.
According to police charging documents, Gavenonis was apprehended while trying to obtain a parking pass at Penn State University on the day prior to Saturday's campaign rally. Gavenonis allegedly declared, "I hate Donald Trump, I'd like to shoot that guy," and then mimicked a "racking gun motion.”
Paul J. Gavenonis was arrested on Oct. 25. Courtesy: Centre County Correctional Facility
Gavenonis also reportedly climbed on top of a tall building and yelled, "You can't take a gun in or the students will see," according to a university police probable cause affidavit. The clerk who distributes the parking passes at the university first reported the matter to authorities, which resulted in Gavenonis's arrest. Gavenonis reportedly admitted to issuing the threat on the GOP nominee's life during an interview with Secret Service and university police inside the Pattee Library Friday evening, according to police documents. When asked if Gavenonis made the comment wishing Trump to be shot or if he would personally shoot Trump, police said Gavenonis responded, "Probably, yeah."
"Frankly, I hope somebody would get him," Gavenonis told authorities while being detained, informing investigators that there was a rifle where Gavenonis stayed.
District Judge Steven Lachman denied Gavenonis bail during Friday night's arraignment. The suspect is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday for a preliminary hearing. It's unclear if Gavenonis was at Penn State to purchase a parking pass for Trump's rally.
This is the latest threat against Donald Trump's life since the first assassination attempt against him on July 13 in Butler, Pennsylvania. Authorities thwarted a second assassination attempt on the former president in West Palm Beach, Florida last month.
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