The family of Craig Robertson, who was killed by FBI agents on his doorstep after making violent threats against President Joe Biden on Facebook, called his death “senseless” in a heartbreaking new statement.
The statement credits Robertson as a church father and brother who made children’s toys as a hobby, utilizing his woodcraft skills.
“The Craig Robertson we knew was a kind and generous person who was always ready to help others in need, even when advanced age, limited mobility and other physical challenges made it more difficult and painful for him,” reads in the press release part.
Robertson, 75, was killed by the FBI on Wednesday on his doorstep in Provo — an hour from Salt Lake City.
His family called his social media activities “excessive” but said he would “never commit an act of violence against another human being over a political or philosophical disagreement.”
That opinion was echoed by neighbor Andrew Maunder, who told the Salt Lake Tribune that Robertson “definitely took his political views, which he expressed very publicly on Facebook.” But I think deep down, he was just a cranky old guy ‘who was harmless.’
According to state records, Robertson had a custom wood processing business but did not renew his license after it expired last year
Craig Robertson in another photo post with his guns, bulletproof vest, ski mask and helmet
Another neighbor, Connor Bunch, said the neighborhood was shocked by the tragedy and referred to Robertson as a “teddy bear” in an interview with the New York Post.
“I don’t think he even got a chance to see a search warrant when they searched the house,” Bunch added.
“As an elderly and mostly housebound man, he had little choice but to exercise his First Amendment right to free speech and to voice his protest on what has become the public space of our time – the internet and social media,” he also said the family in their statement.
Speaking of his patriotism, Robertson’s family said he “loved this country with all his heart.”
The family concluded by saying they harbored “no personal animosity” towards the agents involved in the raid and asked for privacy in their grief.
Robertson had a previous criminal conviction, pleading no plea of disorderly conduct and paying a $100 fine in 2007.
Videos shared on social media showed neighbors peeking from behind curtains and anxiously watching the dawn raid.
The FBI attempted to serve warrants and search warrants at Robertson’s home at 6:15 a.m. but met with opposition. Sources told the AP that Robertson, who had a large arsenal of guns at his home, was armed when they arrived.
Agents in riot gear are seen walking towards his door and yelling at him.
One of the agents threw what appeared to be a smoke bomb at the front door, which exploded on the left of the picture
Robertson is lying on the sidewalk outside his home after Wednesday’s shooting
Robertson, 75, was shot dead on his doorstep by agents in Provo – an hour from Salt Lake City – after they were made aware of his posts about the president
Biden is seen arriving at Wright Air National Guard Base in Salt Lake City, Utah on Wednesday
Then one throws what looks like a smoke bomb, which explodes near the front door.
The actual shooting is unclear, but photos from the scene show Robertson lying dead on his back on the sidewalk outside his home.
“The FBI takes seriously any shooting involving our agents or task force members,” the agency said in a statement.
“In accordance with FBI guidelines, the shooting incident is currently being reviewed by the FBI’s Division of Inspections.
“As this is an ongoing matter, we are unable to provide any further details.”
The FBI began investigating Robertson in April and the Secret Service was notified in June.
For months, Robertson had posted daily threats on his alleged Facebook page, expressing his obsession with the president and fantasies of hurting him.
One post said, “There’s only one creature in this universe I hate more than Joe Biden. It’s Lucifer, Biden’s brother!”
According to Fox13, while guarding Robertson’s home on March 19, a special agent attempted to speak to Robertson about his posts.
Robertson replied, “I said it was a dream!”
He told the agent to come back with a search warrant.
Robertson, who had a bespoke wood fabrication business, worked as a structural steel and welding inspector for 45 years before retiring and starting his own business.
Increasingly violent and threatening, his posts also highlighted Kamala Harris, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, in addition to Biden.
Robertson posted several photos of himself posing with guns and wearing tactical gear on social media
The threats were plans to take physical action, and the FBI deemed them “credible.”
Robertson posted online numerous images of the heavy weapons he had stacked in a vast armory at his home, including sniper rifles and AR-15-style weapons
In March, Robertson threatened to kill Bragg, who is leading the criminal investigation into former President Donald Trump.
“I’ll be waiting in the courthouse parking garage with my silenced Smith & Wesson M&P 9mm to smoke a radical dumb prosecutor who should never have been elected,” he posted at the time.
“Bye bye to another corrupt B______!!!”
Most of his social media posts revolved around the President or his son Hunter – and many contained violent and very specific physical threats.
“In my dream, I see Joe Biden’s dead body in a dark corner of a Washington DC parking garage, his head severed and lying in a huge pool of blood.” Hooray,” he wrote.
As Biden’s scheduled visit to Utah drew near, Robertson stepped up his specific threats.
The messages, believed to have been posted to his Facebook page on Tuesday, contained gory content about how he had brutally murdered the commander in chief
The site, which has posted pro-Trump comments, has also seen other death threats against Biden’s brother, Kamala Harris, as well as Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg
On Monday, Robertson reportedly wrote, “I heard Biden is coming to Utah.” “I’ll pull out my ghillie suit and clean the dust off the M24 sniper rifle.”
“Welcome, Baffoon in Chief!” he concluded the post, written in bold black letters on a pink and purple swirling background.
He then wrote, ‘Hey FBI, are you still monitoring my social media?’ I’m checking to make sure I have a loaded gun in case you come back.’
On Tuesday, his Facebook posts included gory content about how he brutally murdered the commander in chief.
He also shared numerous images of the heavy weapons he had stockpiled in a huge armory at his home, including sniper rifles and AR-15 style guns.
Court documents show that during his visit to Utah, Robertson threatened Biden to “cause him bodily harm.”
Special agents were trying to serve warrants and search warrants at an apartment building in Provo when they shot and killed Craig Deleeuw Robertson at approximately 6:15 am
Police are investigating the scene of a shooting involving the FBI in Provo, Utah, on Wednesday
Robertson, who was accused of making threats against President Joe Biden, was shot dead by FBI agents hours before the president was expected to land in the state on Wednesday
A Provo police officer walks away as FBI officers and other law enforcement officials stand outside the home of Craig Robertson, who was shot dead by the FBI during a raid on his home
The investigation began in April and the US intelligence services became aware of it in June
President Joe Biden delivers economic remarks Wednesday morning at Arcosa, a wind tower manufacturing facility in Belen, New Mexico
Craig Robertson’s full family statement
“We, the family of Craig Deeluew Robertson, are shocked and devastated by the senseless and tragic murder of our beloved father and brother, and we deeply mourn the loss of a good and decent man.”
The Craig Robertson we knew was a kind and generous person who was always willing to help others in need, even when advanced age, limited mobility and other physical challenges made it more difficult and painful for him.
He often used his crafting skills to make beautiful and creative items for others, including toys like sleighs, rocking horses, and chewing gum dispensers for friends’ and neighbors’ children at Christmas time. He was active in his local church and loved the Lord Jesus Christ with all his heart.
He was a devoted dog lover all his life and gave his animals a lot of love and affection. He was a lover of history and an avid reader of all kinds of books. In his younger years he was a sportsman and hunter.
He was a firearms enthusiast, collector, and gunsmith who vigorously championed the constitutionally protected right to own and carry guns to provide sustenance and protection for his family and home.
As a safety inspector in the steel industry, he worked diligently and conscientiously to protect the life and well-being of the countless thousands who would use and benefit from the numerous industrial and public works projects he was responsible for over the decades-long career.
Craig loved this country with all his heart. He saw it as a God-inspired and God-blessed land of liberty. He was understandably frustrated and disturbed by the current and continuing erosion of our constitutionally protected liberties and the rights of free citizens caused by what he saw as corrupt and abusive government and many others in this nation.
As an elderly — and largely homebound — man, he had little choice but to exercise his First Amendment right to free speech and to voice his protest on the now-public space of the internet and social media. Although his utterances have at times been excessive, he never has and would never commit any act of violence against another human being because of a political or philosophical disagreement.
As our family processes the grief and pain of our loss, we want to make it clear that we hold no personal animosity towards those individuals involved in the tragic events on the morning of August 9, 2023 that led to Craig’s death.
We ask the media and the public to respect the privacy of our family members and to give us the time and space we need to process the sad tragedy of these events.”
Later that day, an arrest warrant was unsealed before Biden arrived in the state on Wednesday.
Court documents show that Robertson, who describes himself as “MAGA TRUMPER,” threatened to “cause bodily harm” to Biden during his visit to Utah.
He was accused of interstate threats; threats against the President; and influencing, obstructing and retaliating against federal law enforcement officials through threats.
The FBI searched his home in the early hours of Wednesday morning, just hours before Biden was due to arrive in town for a series of speeches and visits.
An FBI official said the raid is related to an investigation into threats against Biden and other political figures in recent weeks.
The threats were plans to take physical action, and the FBI deemed them “credible.”