A San Marino, California, man accused of driving his truck into a crowd of Black Lives Matter protesters in May had used his family's vineyard to prepare for "civil disorders," according to federal authorities.
NBC News, citing a criminal complaint filed this week in U.S. District Court for Central California, reported that Benjamin Hung, 28, was charged with one count of conspiracy to transport firearms and making a false statement in acquisition of firearms.
The family vineyard is described in the complaint as a "tactical training camp" and shooting range that Hung and others planned on using, NBC News said. Hung is alleged to have called the vineyard "our very own shoot house." In a photo submitted with the complaint, Hung is seen wearing the logo of the 3 Percenters, a far-right militia group, according to the network news.
Pasadena police had first arrested Hung on May 31 on suspicion of attempted assault with a deadly weapon after he was accused of intentionally driving into a crowd of protesters in Old Town Pasadena, the Los Angeles Times noted.
FBI Agent Diamond Outlaw stated in court papers that protesters had been gathered when a police sergeant "saw the truck accelerate rapidly as it drove toward the crowd," the newspaper said.
The crowd sprinted out of the truck's way to avoid being hit.
And NBC News reported that the complaint noted Hung told authorities that he felt threatened after protesters threw things at his truck. However, nothing backed up that account.
Officers found a loaded Glock handgun, a 15-round magazine, a machete, and $3,200 in cash in his truck, according to the court papers.
Jeffrey Rodack ✉
Jeffrey Rodack, who has nearly a half century in news as a senior editor and city editor for national and local publications, has covered politics for Newsmax for nearly seven years.
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