Update Below ~ But if you want the quick answer, he thought the pastor was a Martian.
I have a couple thoughts that may play into this story, but first, Libertarian Republican’s opening on the story:
Things are getting out of hand out there. Incidents of violence perpetrated by and against supporters of various candidates. Now comes word from Idaho of what might be the worst incident yet. A pastor of a non-denominational Christian church, who opened a Cruz rally on Saturday with a prayer, was shot multiple times (reports vary) in the back after church services on Sunday. The pastor, Tim Remington, 55 years old, is in critical but stable condition, and is expected to make a full recovery. Police suspect a 30-year old white man, Kyle Odom. From internet sources, Odom is a former Marine. No motivation has yet been identified.
Did the shooter become an atheist and thus disenchanted with his roots due to radical secularism? Was their an affair the pastor was having with one of Odom’s family members? Was this truly politically motivated? While NONE of the reasons (passing thoughts of mine) I listed demand any of the violent actions taken… this story may fall into a category unforeseen in the original post by LR that brought this to my attention.
Will update the story as more is known.
UPDATE
From Kyle’s “manifesto” via KXLY
“Things are not what they appear to be. The world is ruled by ancient civilization from Mars. Pastor Tim was one of them, and he was the reason my life was ruined. I will be sharing my story with as many people as possible. I don’t have time right now, they are chasing me. I shot Pastor Tim 12 times, there is no way any human could have survived that event. Anyway, I have sent my story to all the major news organizations. I have no time, I have to go.”
…Kyle Odom, 30, was arrested in Washington, D.C., two days after the attack on Tim Remington outside Altar Church in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, after Sunday services.
CNN, citing the Secret Service, reported that Mr. Odom was arrested at the White House. Mr. Odom was arrested after he threw two suspicious objects over the south fence of the White House around 8:30 p.m. EST, CNN’s source said.
A Washington, D.C., arrest had been confirmed by the Couer d’Alene police after Mr. Odom’s family had told local outlets, according to TV station KXLY in Spokane, Washington.
KKLY suggested that Mr. Odom, a former Marine with no criminal record but a history of mental illness, may be suffering delusions.
“In a Facebook post Tuesday afternoon, hours before he was reportedly taken into custody, Odom posted that he had shot Pastor Tim 12 times – Remington was hit six times – because he claimed he was a Martian who had ruined his life,” KXLY wrote….
I didn’t see that one coming.