Man linked to far- right Boogaloo Bois charged over shooting at US police
ATexas man who claims to be a member of the Boogaloo Bois, a far- right antigovernment extremist group intent on starting a second civil war, is facing a riot charge, federal prosecutors said, alleging that the man opened fire on Minneapolis’s 3rd Precinct police station to stir up civil unrest during the May protests over George Floyd’s death.
According to a federal criminal complaint, Ivan Harrison Hunter, a 26- year- old from Bourne, Texas, travelled to Minneapolis after Floyd’s death and was captured on surveillance video May 28 firing 13 rounds froman AK- 47 into the precinct building as it was overtaken by protesters. According to the complaint, Hunter fired his gun and allegedly shouted, “Justice for Floyd!”
Hunter was charged with travelling across state lines to participate in a riot and made his first court appearance last week in San Antonio, where he was arrested on Wednesday, according to Erica MacDonald, the US attorney for the District of Minnesota.
The Boogaloo Bois have been spotted at right- wing and left- wing protests, often heavily armed and wearing Hawaiian shirts.
Members of the loosely organised group have been known to espouse a range of ideologies, including pro- gun, anti- government and white supremacist views. In some cases, they have been found to purposefully sow confusion by impersonating left- wing activists in an effort to fuel movement toward civil war.
Centre of rage
The South Minneapolis police station was the centre of days of protests in the aftermath of Floyd’s May 25 death in police custody. The four former Minneapolis police officers charged with his death were based out of the precinct before they were fired. The police station was ultimately looted and burned along with several buildings surrounding it.
The complaint says Hunter bragged on social media that he had “set fire” to the police station and was identified in social media videos and other witnesses who placed him at the scene. “My momwould call the FBI if she knew what I do,” he allegedlywrote.