A man in Salt Lake City who was seen in a viral footage aiming a bow and arrow at protesters, has been charged with felony.
Brandon McCormick has been charged with two counts of possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person, one count of aggravated assault, and one count of threatening or using a dangerous weapon in a fight, District Attorney Sim Gill said Thursday.
“These are allegations, Mr. McCormick is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law,” Gill’s statement said. “The Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office continues to gather evidence regarding this incident.”
In a video of the incident, McCormick can be heard saying “I’m an American. All lives matter,” as he loads the bow. After he pointed it at the protesters surrounding his car, at least 15 people retaliated by punching, kicking, and throwing things at him, according to CBS affiliate KUTV. His vehicle was flipped and caught fire. It’s unclear in the video if he fired at the group before he was attacked.
Immediately after the incident, McCormick participated in an interview with Fox affiliate KSTU. He appeared to have a black eye and a cut along his forehead. He told the Fox reporter that “he got beat up” when he yelled ‘all lives matter,’ and then again after he pulled out his weapons.
The Salt Lake Tribune reported that McCormick has a criminal record, including charges related to a road rage incident in May. The 57-year-old spent nearly two decades in jail in California, and has been convicted of battery against a public safety officer, the Tribune reported.
