When a man called to confess he had shot his wife, was armed with an AR-15 and planned to kill himself, police in Jefferson City, Missouri raced to the scene. Heavily armed officers ordered the homeowner to walk outside with his hands up. From the doorway, a middle-aged man emerged. It was Jay Ashcroft, Missouri’s Secretary of State who minutes earlier was gearing up for a workout on his home treadmill.
Court documents filed in the case allege Filion “is responsible for hundreds of swatting and bomb threat incidents” and allegedly linked him to accounts that offered swat services, including one that advertised “$50 for a major police response” and “$75 for a bomb threat/mass shooting threat.” An affidavit further alleges Filion swatted FBI agents and would “likely” threaten other government officials. Filion has pleaded not guilty. His attorney did not respond to a request for comment.