North Carolina Senate Candidate Arrested After Armed Standoff Near Private School

Police in North Carolina arrested Jonathan Miller, a Libertarian candidate for state Senate, on Monday following an hours-long armed standoff near a private school. The confrontation ended without gunfire, but it unfolded in public view as Miller posted threatening messages on social media.

Miller is challenging a Democratic incumbent for a state Senate seat. On Monday morning he began posting on X in a way that suggested he was being pursued by armed officers. Around 9:38 a.m., he wrote that the whole police department was chasing him with guns drawn. "I've got six shots and the high ground. I hope they don't find me, but if they do it's going to be a hell of a show," he added.

Several people urged him to surrender, among them Chase Oliver, the 2024 Libertarian presidential nominee. Replying to Oliver at 10:04 a.m., Miller said he had "reached the tree line," indicating he was trying to hide in the woods. When another user offered to send him money, he answered that he had "gave away all [his] money to charity" and did not "want or need yours."

According to police, the situation began when members of the public called after Miller posted messages Sunday night suggesting he was considering suicide. Officers went to check on his welfare Monday morning. During that encounter Miller was carrying a firearm, and police said he ran after being ordered not to touch the weapon.

Miller gave his own account to WRAL, a local NBC affiliate, by phone while the standoff continued. He said he had been depressed and suicidal the night before and had posted what he described as a suicide note on X, which spread widely. He said an officer who knew his name approached him as he smoked outside, saw a holstered revolver on his hip and drew a weapon. Miller said he backed away slowly, then turned and ran into the woods.

Cary Police Chief Terry Sult said Miller had a warrant for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Police worried that the public could be endangered and asked pedestrians and motorists to stay away from the area. The confrontation took place near Resurrection Lutheran School, a private K-8 school, which local reports said was placed under a code yellow lockdown for part of the day.

At about 1:46 p.m., Miller posted that a hostage negotiator type had called him and that officers moved in while he was distracted on the phone, but he spotted one and fled. Around 3 p.m., officers closed in and arrested him without incident. Police said no shots were fired.

Miller faces charges of communicating threats, resisting a public officer, going armed to the terror of the people and possession of a firearm by a felon.

The Libertarian Party of North Carolina told the New York Post it was "aware of the situation" and thanked law enforcement for "pursuing a solution without involving violence." Miller has campaigned on a fairly standard Libertarian platform that includes weakening legal protections for police, repealing drug laws and reducing economic regulations.

Anyone having thoughts of suicide can contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255).