Feds Search for Man Allegedly on 'Mission to Kill the President'
A Warrant Has Been Issued for the Arrest of Daniel James Murray
By JACK DATE
June 5, 2009
Federal authorities in Utah search for a man who allegedly made threats against President Obama.
Daniel James Murray has been charged with making threats against Obama, after telling a bank teller he was part of a "mission" to kill the president. The Secret Service says Murray has at least eight registered firearms. His whereabouts are unknown.
Murray entered Zion's First National Bank in St. George, Utah, May 19, to open a savings account with an $85,000 check, according to a criminal complaint filed in federal court in Salt Lake City today.
Murray allegedly asked if the bank was solvent and then stated, according to the complaint, "With all this mess going on under President Obama with banks and the economy, I'm sure if citizens happen to lose their money, they will rise up and we could see killing and deaths."
On May 27, the complaint states, Murray came back to withdraw $12,698 from his savings account. He did not have proper identification and was told he needed it to complete the transaction. He allegedly said, "Not to be disrespectful, but if I don't get this money, someone is going to die."
The bank manager allowed the transaction, and Murray allegedly demanded bills smaller than $50 in nonsequential order.
Murray then said, "We are on a mission to kill the president of the United States," according to the complaint.
Murray told the teller during that visit, the complaint added, "We are 94 million miles from the sun, and are in-between the sun and moon, and the eagle that flies between them, and it's a giant step for mankind. ... I have traveled thousands of miles to be here and know things that are going to happen. ... The banking system will fail and people will die. ... There will be chaos in the world."
The next day, according to the complaint, Murray withdrew the remaining $72,000 and closed his account.
Murray's location is unknown, the complaint said. He is believed to be driving a blue 2001 Buick LeSabre with New York plates that read "ERL 1445," and are registered in his name. Murray originally is from New York, but he has recently been in California, Utah, Georgia, Oklahoma and possibly Texas.
"There are at least eight firearms registered to Murray, ranging from semi-automatic pistols to revolvers, some capable of carrying 15 rounds of ammunition and easy to conceal," the complaint said.
A Secret Service spokesman said there will be no further comment on the case because it involves protective intelligence.
"This is one of a gazillion cases, " the spokesman told ABC News. "It's not that out of the ordinary. We see this day in and day out."