75-year-old Utah man, Craig Robertson, was fatally gunned down during an FBI raid at his residence after he was alleged to have made threats against the president. Neighbors of Robertson described him as a teddy bear and harmless old man, who diligently cared for his blind son, Sean. The level of force used in the raid was shocking to many locals, particularly given Robertson’s physical state; he weighed 300 pounds, was an Air Force veteran, walked with a cane, and was barely mobile.
One local man said of Robertson:
“He would guide his son through church and pick a seat for him, tapped his son on the shoulder to signal where to sit. Without his dad, I think he’s going to have a really hard time just doing basic things.”
The incident took place on a Wednesday when law enforcement officials, in their attempt to serve a warrant, faced Robertson who allegedly pointed a gun at them. This confrontation led to what locals described as a barrage of gunfire. Following the shootout, Robertson was taken out of his house, where he succumbed to his injuries on the sidewalk. Some residents even argued that the level of response was unwarranted and excessive.
The series of events surrounding the raid became even more poignant when details about the morning’s activities came to light. Neighbors recalled being jolted awake around 6 a.m. by the FBI’s demands for Robertson to surrender. The sudden eruption of gunfire thereafter had some thinking the shots were being fired within their own homes. After the incident, Robertson’s lifeless body was left on the sidewalk for a considerable duration, covered with a bloodstained sheet, which added to the community’s shock and distress.
