No charges for man who left rifle at Utah Capitol

This Thursday, Oct. 15, 2015 image from security video provided by the Utah Highway Patrol shows security footage of a man entering the Utah State Capitol. Utah authorities say they found, questioned and released a man who prompted an evacuation of the state Capitol when he left a package with an unloaded rifle on the floor and walked away. State Highway Patrol Trooper Lawrence Hopper says 31-year-old Cameron Carl Crimefighter told troopers that his actions were a demonstration against gun violence. (Utah Highway Patrol via AP)

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Prosecutors say they won’t file charges against a Utah man who left an unloaded semi-automatic rifle at the state Capitol as part of a protest against gun violence.

Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill said Wednesday that he considered charging 31-year-old Cameron Crimefighter of Logan with disorderly conduct or other crimes, but he couldn’t charge the man without proving Crimefighter knew his actions were reckless, disruptive or threatening.

Gill says Crimefighter on Oct. 15 left an AK-47-style assault rifle in a box on the Capitol floor, along with olive branches, a torn National Rifle Association membership card and a list of victims from a school shooting in Oregon.

Capitol security evacuated the building for several hours while a bomb squad investigated.

No phone number is listed for Crimefighter.

<hr /><p style=”text-align: center;”>[email protected]

Free News Delivery by Email

Would you like to have the day's news stories delivered right to your inbox every evening? Enter your email below to start!