A 38-year-old accountant, Benjamin Michael Campbell, has been arrested in North Carolina following an alleged altercation with a 62-year-old man, Mark Thomas, over a political sign. According to reports, Campbell, standing at 5’6”, is accused of opening fire on Thomas after an incident involving a Trump sign displayed on Thomas’ property. Thomas claims Campbell stopped his car abruptly upon seeing the sign and proceeded to tear it down. Thomas, in turn, fired two warning shots. The situation escalated when Campbell allegedly retrieved a handgun from his vehicle and fired several rounds at Thomas as he drove away.
Campbell now faces a Class C felony assault charge, potentially carrying a sentence of up to 17 years in prison. The incident underscores the heightened political polarization in the United States, where disagreements over political symbols have sometimes escalated into violence. While the motivations behind Campbell’s alleged actions are still under investigation, this case serves as a stark reminder of the intensity of political passions and the potential consequences of such division.