Man arrested for shots fired into Montco Democratic Committee office

NORRISTOWN >> Officials in Montgomery County on Friday announced the arrest of a county man on charges he fired shots into the county Democratic committee office in Norristown.

Norristown Police Chief Mark E. Talbot and District Attorney Kevin R. Steele said Anthony F. Nero, 48, of Eagleville is charged with felony terrorism and related counts.

Police were dispatched Jan. 20 at 4:38 p.m. to the committee office for a report of shots having been fired into the office.

Brian Levy, committee executive director, told officers that he had just arrived at the office and found three bullet holes in the front window. Two of the three projectiles were retrieved by officers from a desk and were determined to have come from a .45-caliber handgun, officials said.

The incident came after the Democratic committee had received a threatening email Jan. 7, which Levy had reported to police.

The profanity-laden email suggested security

at the office be beefed up, and included a reference to the “stolen election” and that “random acts of violence are difficult to investigate.”

Police, with help from the FBI, state police and county detectives, traced the email message to Nero’s residence and cellphone. A search warrant was obtained, and investigators found a loaded .45-caliber firearm registered to Nero in his vehicle.

Nero is charged with terrorism, terroristic threats, carrying a firearm without a license and recklessly endangerment. He was arraigned before District Judge Richard H. Welsh, who set bail at $50,000.

Anthony Nero