Beheading suspect Justin Mohn claims he murdered his own father during botched attempt at citizens arrest
A Philadelphia man accused of killing and beheading his own father claims the murder took place a botched attempt at conducting a citizens arrest.
A Philadelphia man accused of killing and beheading his own father claims the murder took place a botched attempt at conducting a citizens arrest.
Justin Mohn, of Levittown, is facing charges of murder, terrorism and theft relating to the killing of his father Michael, 68, in January of this year.
He was arrested after sharing a disturbing 14-minute video titled Mohns Militia - Call to Arms for American Patriots in which he displayed his fathers severed head.
After a court appearance on Tuesday, Mohn told reporters his father was a federal employee and admitted to killing him after the dad betrayed him and resisted an citizens arrest.
While dressed in a yellow jumpsuit, Mohn said: He was a federal employee and betrayed me. I was trying to perform a citizens arrest. He resisted that citizens arrest. Its lawful to use deadly force in that event.
After a court appearance on Tuesday, Mohn told awaiting reporters that he had killed his father who had betrayed him after he resisted an citizens arrest
In court, prosecutors argued that Mohn had planned to kill his own father basing it on his YouTube video where they say he read from a prepared speech.
Prosecutors also claim that this video was a call to action from Mohn, calling on others to rise up and overthrow the government.
According to NBC Philadelphia, prosecutors also said that Mohn had written to the head of a National Guard Base in Lebanon County, where he was caught.
On the evening of his fathers death, Mohn is alleged to have taken his fathers car to the base and jumped over the fence before he was apprehended.
In a letter to the commander of the base, which was read out in court, Mohn apologized and said he wanted the National Guard to join his movement.
Prosecutor Edward Louka also added that Mohn had a to do list and prosecutors showed photos of Mohn buying the gun they say he used in the killing.
Louka told the court: Essentially what this case is, Mr. Mohn, based on his beliefs, is making a call to arms to achieve the aims he believes in.
He did that through violence. The violence was the murder of his father, who, its obviously not a coincidence, was a federal employee. He, essentially, needed that murder to get his message across.
On the evening of his fathers death, who is seen here, Mohn is alleged to have taken his fathers car to the base and jumped over the fence before he was apprehended
His defense lawyers have not argued against the murder charges, and have made attempts to dismiss terrorism charges.
They claim that while Mohn did post online that he was the head of a militia, he had nobody backing him and no followers.
His attorney Steven Jones said: Its a tragic case. The loss of life is always tragic. I dont think there are any winners here.
In discussing details of the day, prosecutors told the court that Mohns father was shot while he was using the bathroom.
Mohns father worked for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Philadelphia District and was branded a traitor to the country in his sons rambling manifesto.
In the video, Mohn offered a $1 million bounty to anyone who could kill top officials including FBI Director Christopher Wray, Attorney General Merrick Garland and former Attorney General Bill Barr.
The 14-minute clip was viewed more than 5,000 times before being taken down.
Among Mohns grievances with the Biden administration was the belief that woke mobs were destroying the country.
His talking points echoed beliefs associated with QAnon, a far-right conspiracy theory that hinges on fabricated claims made by anonymous individuals called Q.
Mohns mother, Denice, discovered her husbands headless body when she returned home and called police.
The Pennsylvania man is accused of beheading his father in the familys Levittown home before going on a bizarre rant against the federal government in a YouTube video
Police found the severed head inside a plastic bag that had been placed in a cooking pot in a bedroom.
In the bathroom next door, investigators recovered a large kitchen knife and a machete from the tub. Bloody rubber gloves were also found in a first-floor bedroom.
The University of Colorado graduate referred to himself as the commander of Americas national network of militias, which you may know as Mohns Militia.
He made frequent references to God and Satan and called for people to follow him.
Prior to the 2020 presidential election, some electors and campaign contributors in both the Republican and Democratic parties saw me as the best candidate for president of America, despite my age, Mohn said.
He claimed he couldve been the first unanimously elected president since George Washington.
The Pennsylvania man previously filed a lawsuit against the United States after he failed to secure a job.
According to court documents from 2023, Mohn argued that he deserved more than $10 million from the United States because his degree did not lead to better jobs or higher pay, but rather disadvantaged him because he was perceived as an "overeducated, white male" and "affirmative action" policies hurt his career chances.
