A Georgia man has been arrested after allegedly tearing down a pro-Trump sign and then opening fire toward the home of the sign’s owner, authorities say.
According to the Swain County Sheriff’s Office, 37-year-old Benjamin Michael Campbell was taken into custody on September 30 and later extradited to North Carolina on October 7. He now faces multiple charges, including assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill or inflict serious injury, discharging a firearm within an enclosure to incite fear, and willful and wanton injury to personal property.
The incident reportedly unfolded on September 6, when Campbell was speeding through Nantahala Gorge, North Carolina, and spotted a pro-Trump banner on the property of homeowner Mark Thomas. Campbell allegedly slammed on his brakes, tore down the banner, and then fired multiple shots toward the residence through the sunroof of his vehicle — an act that appears to have been captured on video.
“He was driving along, saw the sign, slammed on his brakes — you know, had a political trigger moment — and he just had to tear the sign down,” Thomas, 62, told the Daily Mail.
“He was driving along, saw the sign, slammed on his brakes — you know, had a political trigger moment — and he just had to tear the sign down,” Thomas recounted. He added that he was prepared to defend himself if the situation escalated. “I have weapons for my protection and my enjoyment, and I keep them handy. What good are they if you can’t get to them when you need them? So I reached over and grabbed my rifle.”
Campbell initially fled the scene but was later arrested in Georgia on September 30. He was extradited to North Carolina on October 7 and booked into the Swain County Detention Center. According to the Swain County Sheriff’s Office, video captured by Thomas helped law enforcement identify and locate the suspect.
Campbell is facing three felony charges: assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill or inflict serious injury, discharging a firearm within an enclosure to incite fear, and willful and wanton injury to personal property.
Thomas said the attack reminded him of a broader pattern of escalating political violence, citing the recent assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk. He called that killing “absolutely tragic” and said the same mindset appears to be driving incidents like his own. “No one died here in my yard, but flip the coin, snap your fingers — somebody could have died here,” he said. “And it’s becoming much more common.”
In a public statement, the Swain County Sheriff’s Office urged residents to report suspicious or politically motivated harassment, saying, “We take threats of violence seriously, regardless of motivation, and are committed to holding perpetrators accountable.”
Local officials have not released additional details regarding Campbell’s background or what may have motivated the shooting beyond what was captured in the video.
Thomas has since replaced the destroyed banner and says he refuses to be intimidated. “I’m a Trump supporter,” he said, “and I’m not taking my sign down.”
