Anthony Nero Arrested For Firing Shots Into Montgomery County Democratic Committee Office Following Threatening Email, Officials Say
NORRISTOWN, Pa. (CBS) -- "Violence is the only language you bloodsuckers understand." That is just part of an email, police say, was sent to the Montgomery County Democratic Party last month, days before shots were fired into its headquarters.
Now, an arrest has been made. Court documents show Anthony Nero of Eagleville admitted to police he fired a gun into the headquarters of the Montgomery County Democratic Party because he was both stressed from the pandemic and upset over the presidential election.
Nero, 48, is now charged with making terroristic threats and carrying a firearm without a license.
"It is a sense of relief," Joe Foster said.
Foster chairs Montgomery County's Democratic Party and remembers an email he received on Jan. 7, the day after the U.S. Capitol riot, that said, in part: "Violence is the only language you bloodsuckers understand. Random acts of violence are difficult to investigate. Have fun."
"It seemed relatively vague and it wasn't clear there was going to be any action or to whom," Foster said.
But days later, on President Joe Biden's inauguration day, three bullet holes were found in the windows of the party's headquarters in Norristown. No one was inside at the time and no one was hurt.
Police later tracked the email to Nero's Eagleville home where, officers say, Nero admitted to firing at the Democratic Party headquarters.
Police say the email read: "Just wanted to let your offices know that you should probably beef up security. With this stolen election and Coup d'etat, violence is the only language you bloodsuckers understand. F*** you and your BLM [explitive] along with ANTIFA. We WILL end this insurrection. Again, TRUMP YOU! You f***ing traitors. Random acts of violence are difficult to investigate. Have fun."
Nero's phone went to voicemail when we called Friday seeking comment, and no one answered Nero's door.
Meantime, Montgomery County's Democratic Party has since added security to its building.
"I think this is an individual who's truly troubled. But there's a mentality out there that gives permission to these things," Foster said. "I hope that we're turning the corner on that."
Nero was arraigned but is free after posting 10% of a $50,000 bail.