- Pennsylvania man accused of decapitating his father and attempting to mobilize National Guard against federal government
- Suspect apprehended at military training center after dismembered body discovered
- Victim was federal employee, suspect facing charges of murder, abuse of a corpse, and possession of a criminal weapon, investigation ongoing.
Additional Coverage:
A man from Pennsylvania has been accused of decapitating his father at their home before going to a military training center in an attempt to mobilize the National Guard against the federal government, according to prosecutors. The suspect, Justin Mohn, was apprehended at Fort Indiantown Gap after his father’s dismembered body was discovered. Mohn was found trespassing at the military installation and was taken into custody without incident. He had a loaded firearm and had posted a disturbing video on YouTube following the murder, calling for violence against federal employees.
The victim, Michael Mohn, was a 68-year-old federal employee with the Army Corps of Engineers. He was found dead by his wife, who alerted the authorities. The police discovered a large kitchen knife and machete at the crime scene. An autopsy revealed that the victim had been shot and then dismembered using the knife and machete. Police also received multiple 911 calls regarding the YouTube video, which had garnered thousands of views before being taken down.
Justin Mohn fled from his home in his father’s vehicle and traveled directly to Fort Indiantown Gap. He claimed that he went to the military center to mobilize the Pennsylvania National Guard against the federal government. The vehicle was located near the military installation after pinging the suspect’s cellphone. The police chief commended the agencies involved for the fast apprehension of the suspect, emphasizing the potential panic and manhunt that could have ensued.
Justin Mohn is now facing charges of first-degree murder, abuse of a corpse, and possession of a criminal weapon. He has been denied bail, and a preliminary hearing has been scheduled. It is currently unknown if he has legal representation. Additional charges are being considered by the prosecutors.
It was revealed that Mohn legally purchased the firearm used in the murder the day before the crime. He surrendered his medical marijuana card to qualify for the purchase, indicating that he was of sound mind at the time. Although he has no diagnosed mental health issues, there were prior contacts with the police regarding non-criminal matters and concerns about his behavior.
The investigation into the homicide is ongoing and could take months, according to the district attorney. Authorities are also looking into any communication on Discord related to Mohn’s call for violence. YouTube has stated that they are actively removing any re-uploads of the video and terminated Mohn’s channel for violating their policies on graphic violence and violent extremism.