On Sunday, an 80-year-old man putting up a Trump sign in his yard in Michigan was struck by an all-terrain vehicle, after which a 22-year-old man called authorities, said he was involved and then committed suicide, authorities said.
According to Hancock police, the elderly man was hit by an ATV driver at 5:45 p.m. The incident followed other incidents of vandalism that appeared to target people who had expressed support for former President Donald Trump and law enforcement.
The Houghton County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement that a 22-year-old man contacted Hancock police on Monday and said he “wanted to confess to a crime involving an ATV driver that occurred within the past 24 hours.”
The sheriff’s office said the man asked for someone to come to his Quincy Township home, but deputies found him dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Police said they also found an ATV believed to have been involved in the crash, as well as clothing believed to have been worn by the suspect.
Authorities have not released the identity of the 22-year-old man.
Hancock police say the victim who was struck by the ATV is in critical condition.
Statements from the police department and sheriff’s office did not disclose the nature of the political sign the victim was holding when he was attacked.
But Hancock police said the three incidents, two of which involved vehicle vandalism, were related and appeared to have been carried out by someone on an ATV and targeted people expressing support for Trump or law enforcement.
The sheriff’s office said the victims were carrying presidential campaign posters for President Trump and “Thin Blue Line” stickers and flags.
The sheriff’s office and Hancock Police Department said the incident is still under investigation.
Hancock is a small city of about 5,000 people located in the Upper Peninsula of northwestern Michigan.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, please contact the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling 988. You can also call the network formerly known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. 800-273-8255Text HOME to 741741 or SpeakerOfSuicide.com/Resources For additional resources, please click here.
