A Georgia man has been arrested and extradited to North Carolina after allegedly tearing down a pro-Trump banner and firing multiple rounds toward the home of its owner, authorities confirmed this week.

The Swain County Sheriff’s Office identified the suspect as 37-year-old Benjamin Michael Campbell. He was taken into custody in Georgia on September 30 and extradited to North Carolina on October 7, where he is facing multiple felony charges.

According to investigators, the incident occurred on September 6 along U.S. Highway 19 in the Nantahala Gorge area of Swain County, North Carolina. Campbell was allegedly speeding when he spotted a pro-Trump flag displayed in the yard of homeowner Mark Thomas.

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Thomas, 62, told The New York Post that Campbell “was driving along, saw the sign, slammed on his brakes — you know, had a political trigger moment — and he just had to tear the sign down.”

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Surveillance footage captured from the property appears to show the suspect stopping his vehicle, removing the flag, and then firing several shots toward Thomas’s home through the sunroof of his car before fleeing the scene.

Thomas told the Daily Mail that he keeps firearms nearby for self-defense and quickly prepared to protect himself. “I have weapons for my protection and my enjoyment, and I keep them handy,” he said.

“You know, what good are they if you can’t get to them when you need them? So I reached over and grabbed my rifle.”

The Swain County Sheriff’s Office said the homeowner’s footage played a key role in identifying the suspect and coordinating with out-of-state authorities to locate him.

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Campbell was arrested by law enforcement in Georgia and transported back to North Carolina, where he was booked into the Swain County Detention Center on October 7.

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Campbell is charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill or inflict serious injury, discharging a firearm within an enclosure to incite fear, and willful and wanton injury to personal property. Each charge carries potential prison time under North Carolina law.

Following his arrest, the Swain County Sheriff’s Office released a statement emphasizing the importance of community vigilance. “We take threats of violence seriously, regardless of motivation, and are committed to holding perpetrators accountable,” officials said.

Thomas said the attack left him shaken but resolute in maintaining his right to display political signs. “I’m a Trump supporter,” he said. “No one died here in my yard, but flip the coin, snap your fingers, somebody could have died here. And it’s becoming much more common.”

He also drew comparisons to other recent acts of political violence, referencing the September 10, 2025, assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk. Thomas called that incident “absolutely tragic,” suggesting both cases reflect an increasingly volatile climate.

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After the shooting, Thomas replaced his damaged Trump banner with a new one. He said he refuses to be intimidated into silence and hopes that justice will be served.

Local officials have not disclosed further details about Campbell’s background or possible motives beyond what was captured on video. Authorities continue to investigate the incident and have urged residents to report suspicious behavior immediately to law enforcement.