Police arrest a California veteran accused of plotting a “Las Vegas-style” mass shooting

A 37-year-old California man was arrested Sunday on suspicion of planning a “Las Vegas-style” mass shooting, police said.

The Chico Police Department said Dallas Marsh was taken into custody after detectives obtained evidence he made criminal threats to kill certain individuals, law enforcement officers and others in a mass shooting. Police said Marsh had a “set deadline” to carry out this alleged gunfight.

A SWAT team located and arrested Marsh Sunday morning near the Super 8 Motel in Chico, according to a statement of the police. After his arrest, Marsh reportedly threatened to kill other officers and their families and hit an officer with a table during an interview in custody.

Marsh was charged with making criminal death threats/grievous bodily harm and assault against a peace officer and threats of violence against peace officers.

Authorities didn’t say when Marsh intended to carry out this alleged mass shooting, but October 1 is the fifth anniversary of the Las Vegas massacre. The Las Vegas shooting was the deadliest mass shooting committed by an individual in United States history.

An FBI investigation has failed to determine the motivations behind the Las Vegas gunman who set up a sniper’s nest on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Hotel from which he opened fire on the Route 91 Harvest music festival on the Vegas Strip. The gunman shot dead 60 people and injured more than 500 others before dying from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Police could not identify a motive behind Marsh’s alleged shooting. The New York Post reports that photos on a Facebook account that appear to belong to Marsh indicate he is an Army veteran. In his “Intro” section, Marsh wrote that he previously served as the commander of the US Army’s Delta Force.

Some people have started leaving nasty comments on the account, calling Marsh a “terrorist” and wishing for his death. One user who said he “served in Iraq with Marsh” called him a “really good guy” and the “someone to rely on” to chide those who leave negative comments.

“This isn’t who Marsh is. Neither of you knows what’s going on and quickly names the call and judges at the end of the day. Hopefully he gets the help he needs to be the true person he is. Struggle related to PTSD and the failed mental health care this country provided to veterans is a major concern,” the user said wrote.

“Until you all go through the war and then fight demons of those events yourself, maybe take a look at what made one person fall so hard,” he wrote.