Mark Thomas, a North Carolina businessman who owns a river rafting company, described an alarming incident in which he was shot at by a man who tore down a Trump banner from his mother’s yard. The incident occurred on September 6, as Thomas was relaxing at his family home. According to Thomas, he noticed a man wearing an ‘Antifa-style mask’ step out of a Jeep Cherokee to inspect the banner, which was attached to a bus parked near his mother’s property. Thomas, who is a staunch supporter of the Second Amendment, retrieved his rifle and discharged two warning shots into the air. However, the suspect, Benjamin Michael Campbell, allegedly returned to the scene in his vehicle and opened fire through the sunroof of the car, striking a refrigerator inside the home. Campbell then fled the scene before police arrived, but was eventually arrested and extradited to North Carolina, where he faces multiple charges, including assault with a deadly weapon and damage to property.
Thomas expressed shock at the suspect’s age and background, noting that Campbell was a 38-year-old Atlanta-based accountant with no apparent violent history. He emphasized that the incident highlighted the increasing polarization and hostility within the nation’s political landscape. ‘Some of these people, they just see a Trump sign, and they just snap,’ Thomas said. He also noted that he had no intention of endangering Campbell, but felt compelled to defend his family’s property. The shooting occurred just days before the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, which Thomas said brought national attention to the escalating tensions between political factions. Despite the danger, Thomas remains hopeful that he will one day speak with Campbell to understand the motivations behind the attack. ‘I’d really like to talk to that guy and find out what’s in his head,’ Thomas said. ‘I’d like him to look at the video and see me standing on my porch and realize how close he came to losing his life over a banner.’ The incident raises questions about the consequences of political polarization and the potential for violence in a deeply divided society.