Case 1:19-mj-00147-B Document 1-1 Filed 08/16/19 Page 1 of 6 PageID 9 Al.5l)l.ocal 9! (Rev, Cnmmal Complaint UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT for the Southern DisI?rict of Alabama United States of America v. Thomas Matthew McVicker CRIMINAL COMPLAINT l, the complainant in this case. state that the following, is true to the best of'my knowledge and belief. On or about the datet?s) of - .WAIIQUSI 20w - . in the county of . Wh??aiqwinm in the Southern District of Alabama the def?endan?s) violated: Code Section (Jffimse Description Title 18. United States Code, interstate Transmission of Threat to Injures Section 8?5(o) This criminai complaint is based on these facts: See attached af?davit 9f Continued on the attached sheet. KeIley FBI Spemamgent W. P) name Sworn to before me and attestation acknowledged pursuant to FRCP 4. Date: x4 UWI 91 4770? City and state: _Mobile,.AlabamaW Sonja Stvins U. S. Judge mane Case Document 1-1 Filed 08/16/19 Page 2 of 6 PageID 10 THE STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTH [iiRN OF ALABAMA IN THE OF COMPLAINF AGAINST MATT MCVECKER, U.S.C. 875(c) Mag. No. Filed Under Seal AFFIDAVIT I, Ketrick Kelley (hereafter Ai?i?iant), being duly sworn, hereby depose and say: l. At?tiant makes this affidavit in support ol?criminal complaint. 2. Al?fiant has been employed as a Special Agent of the liederai Bureau of Investigation since August l999. While assigned to the At?fiant has investigated and assisted 'with investigating federal criminai violations related to high technology or cyber crime. child exploitation? and child pornography, violent incident crimes. gang investigations, narcotics investigations, and counter terrorism. Al?t?iant has gained experience through extensive investigations of violent incident crimes and has working experience in working terroristic threats violatione. Af?ant is a federal law enforcement oliicer who is engaged in enforcing the criminal laws, including l8 U.S.C. 875 and 875(c), and is authorized by the Attorney General of?the United States to request this arrest warrant. 3. At??ant respectfully submits that there is probable cause to believe that THOMAS has made credible threats to conduct a mass shooting and suicide. Ai?l?iant tenders this af?davit in support of a criminal complaint and application authorizing an arrest warrant of THOMAS DOB: SSN: 523-4l-i6i7, Residence: Punta Gorda, FL. Case 1:19-mj-00147-B Document 1-1 Filed 08/16/19 Page 3 of 6 PageID 11 4. The statements contained in this affidavit are based in part on: at. Information provided by FBI Special Agents; b. Written reports about this and other investigations that have received. directly or indirectly, from other law enforcement agents; c. My training and experience as a Special Agent with the FBI. 5. Because this af?davit is being submitted for the limited purpose ofsecuring authorization for the requested arrest warrant. have not included each and every fact known to me coneeming this investigation. instead. I have set forth only the facts that I believe are necessary to establish the necessary foundation for the requested warrant. RELEVANT STATUTES 6. This investigation concerns alleged violations of: IS U.S.C. 875(c). Interstate Communications. 7. l8 U.S.C. 875(c) states ?Whoever transmits in interstate or foreign commerce any communication containing any threat to kidnap any person or any threat to injure the person ofanother, shall be lined under this title or imprisoned not more than ?ve years. or both? BACKGROUND OF THE INVESTIGATION AND PROBABLE CAUSE 8. August l2. 20l9. Task Force Officer (TFO) Rebecca l?etmlis ofthc Tampa Division ofthe l-"Bl received information that subject. Thomas Matthew McVickcr is threatening to conduct a mass shooting and suicide. Petrulis made contact with the complainant.- -. who advised the following: 9. - and McVicker have been friends since 2006 and have maintained communication offand on throughout the years. - currently resides in l?airhope. Alabama I'd Case 1:19-mj-00147-B Document 1-1 Filed 08/16/19 Page 4 of 6 PageID 12 and stated that McVicker is semi-truck driver who lives in his truck. In July 20l 9. MeVieker and - began communicating regularly through text message and voicemail on his cell phone lO. On August 9. 2019. McVicker sent - a series of text messages about conducting a mass shooting. McVicker told - ?l was thinking about shooting a church up but I?m afraid how it will affect my family in the ?esh after I'm gone. So think I'm just gonna kill some people on the street and get away with it then kill myself." - told McVieker that he is sick and asked why he wants to kill innocent people, to which McVickcr advised that ?They put spiritual snakes and spiders in my bed at night. l?ve only seen them a couple oftimes but they take form and I can feel them crawling on me and under me. if one really bites me I could die. They bit me on my throat twice an almost killed me but I was too strong." I l. - advised McVicker to seek help and he replied "l?m telling you there won?t be a glorious turn around for me l?m going to be gone soon forever." McVieker continues to tell - that evil "entities" entered his body and are torturing him. He further stated that he has been in a mental hospital three times and is on medication and has been told he is delusional. but he knows that it is real. l2. On August 12. 20W. TFO Pctrulis made contact with McVicker?s mother. who confirmed that McVicker is under treatment and on medication for schizophrenia. She also confirmed that she does often claim to he possessed by demons and hears voices. -contirmed that MeVicker is currently in possession of a Ruger P90 handgun and sometimes uses cocaine and methamphetamine. McVicker told - that he plans to take time off work on August 22. 20l9. while in Memphis, Tennessee. Case 1:19-mj-00147-B Document 1-1 Filed 08/16/19 Page 5 of 6 PageID 13 I3. On August l4. 2019. at approximately pm EST. - called TFO Petrulis to advise that shejust completed a telephone call with McVicker on the aforementioned cellular phone number. - advised that McVieker was erratic and told her that he was going to ?shoot up" a church when he is in Memphis on August 22. - stated that MeVieker was speaking in a frantic manner and told her that he intended to take his knife and slit the pastor's throat. - said that MeVieker was sometimes incoherent and she did not discern an exact location: however McVieker insisted that ?something" would happen when he was in Memphis. l4. On August l5. 20l9. TFO Pctrulis confirmed with McVicker?s employer, - - is in receipt ofa leave request submitted by MeVicker for August 22. 20l9. The leave request indicated that MeVieker would spend his leave time in Memphis. IS. 011 August IS. 2019. Afliant met with - With the consent of-. aftiant reviewed all text message conversations between McVieker and - on - cellphone. Af?ant confirmed the content ofthe alorementioned text messages. as outlined in the preceding paragraphs. - also provided afliant with serecnshots of the alorcmentitmed text message communications with MeVicker. Afliant confirmed with - the content ofthe voice conversation she had with McViker the previous day. concerning McViker carrying out a mass shooting at a church in Memphis. Tennessee on August 22, CONCLUSION Based on the foregoing, Aftiant respectively submits there is probable cause to believe that MeVieker has transmitted in interstate commerce messages from various locations within the United States to Fairhope. AL that contain cl ?ar threats to conduct a mass shooting and Case 1:19-mj-00147-B Document 1-1 Filed 08/16/19 Page 6 of 6 PageID 14 suicide. in violatien ofTiile 18 875(6). 41 7?7 4; Kctrick Kelley Special Agent. 1131 Federal Bureau of lnvestigation 1111: ABOVE AGENT HAS A1 1111131 1131) 1011113 A11 IDAVII PURSUANI 10 113.1) 11. 11 4111112113) 111 8111141., DAY 01 AUGUSI 20119 4 HONORA BL 1 SONIA F. BIVINS UNI I ED I A TBS MAGIS I RA I JUDGE-E