SALON

Monday, Aug 2, 2010 5:12 PM UTC

Cops: Murder suspect wanted to start a coup

Pennsylvania prison guard Raymond Peake III told police he was stockpiling guns to overthrow federal government

By

Topics: Pennsylvania, War Room,

Cops: Murder suspect wanted to start a coupRaymond Peake III

A Pennsylvania prison guard charged with murdering a man at a shooting range and stealing his semi-automatic rifle told police that he was stockpiling guns as part of a plan to overthrow the federal government, according to a police affidavit reviewed by Salon.

It’s a story that has flown under the national radar but may represent the latest anti-government flare-up of the Obama era.

Raymond Peake III, 64, was charged Saturday in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, with killing Attorney Todd Getgen at a shooting range in the south central part of the state. Getgen, 42, was found dead with multiple gunshot wounds. Police allege that Peake stole Getgen’s AR-15 semi-automatic rifle, with attached custom silencer, and brought it the house of another corrections officer, Thomas Tuso, for safekeeping.

When he was arrested, Peake told a police detective that he was alone with Getgen at the shooting range that day — but had actually found Getgen dead and merely taken the rifle. The police affidavit alleges:

“Peake said he has been stealing guns for the purpose of aiding an organization that Peake refused to name. Peake said the organization is collecting guns for the purpose of overthrowing the federal government. Peake said he and Tuso together are members of this organization. Peake [said] that he would kill to defend his country and he was stealing weapons to defend his country.”

Interestingly, the affidavit also says Peake drives a Jeep with a special “combat wounded” license plate and a bronze star sticker in the window, suggesting he is a veteran. It’s not clear if he has an attorney.

Police allege they observed Peake on Thursday depositing something at a self-storage center. When they searched his storage unit, they say they found Getgen’s AR-15, another similar semi-automatic rifle, and a Remington 700 rifle that had been reported stolen from the same shooting range earlier this year.

Both Peake and Tuso have been suspended without pay from their jobs at the Camp Hill Correctional Facility , according to the Carlisle Sentinel.

Justin Elliott

Justin Elliott is a reporter for ProPublica. You can follow him on Twitter @ElliottJustin More Justin Elliott.

Next Article

You Might Also Like

More Related Stories

Featured Slide Shows

Gripping photos: The people of the Turkey protests (slideshow)

close X
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on Facebook
  • Thumbnails
  • Fullscreen
  • 1 of 11
  • The protests take on a festive element as police forces move out of the park and square. Wearing a gas mask, this young man dances to traditional Turkish music in front of Taksim Square’s Ataturk Monument.

  • In Gezi Park since March 31st, this protester, originally caught off-guard by the Government’s teargas and water cannons, went out and bought a Russian army mask from WWII, preparing for what was to come.

  • This rambunctious boy seems to be enjoying the chaos. After taking this picture he threw a stone at the already destroyed building in the background.

  • Forming a line, the police face off directly with protesters in Taksim Square. After a while, they retreated and there was a general cheer – a back-and-forth dance that has been common since the beginning of this protest.

  • An elderly woman in Gezi Park reads the news. The tent community occupying the park was violently destroyed on June 16th.

  • Many different groups had set up booths to promote their cause in Taksim Square and Gezi Park. Standing in front of one, this man waves his flag while posing with conviction.

  • Many home-remedies are used to minimize the effects of tear gas. This woman has put a milky solution on her face, removing her mask after the tear gas dissipated. Before sunrise, the police came again for another round of teargasing.

  • People capitalize on the uprising -- selling flags, beer, gas masks, sky lanterns and spray paint to name just a few of the popular items.

  • On Monday morning, June 11, the police execute a strong offensive. Many plain-clothed police officers, like the ones seen here, clash with protesters in the side streets away from the main stand-off in Taksim.

  • The authorities seem to be most aggressive in the night, pushing protesters away from the square and park. After being teargassed this young woman catches her breath with other protesters on Siraselviler Street.

  • Recent Slide Shows

  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on Facebook
  • Thumbnails
  • Fullscreen
  • 1 of 11

Related Videos

More Related Stories

Comments

 61 Comments

Comment Preview

Your name will appear as username ( settings | log out )

You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href=""> <b> <em> <strong> <i> <blockquote>

follow salon

Most Read

Popular on Reddit

links from salon.com

From Around the Web

Presented by Scribol
listener_new_rect The Listener: "We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves": Growing up primate

Recommendations