A manhunt is underway in Janesville, WI, after cops say a man stole a large number of high-end handguns and rifles from a local gun shop, lit his vehicle on fire and made threats to local schools. Oh, and they say he topped it all off by writing what has been described as a threatening 161-page manifesto to Donald Trump. He also allegedly had someone videotape him mailing the manifesto. Janesville may sound familiar to some as it it the home of Speaker of the House, Paul Ryan, though he does not appear to be a target of the threats.
Police closed dozens of schools in the area on Friday as a precaution as the manhunt for Joseph Jakubowski is still reportedly underway, according to local news station WISN 12.
In the video of him mailing the letter, he can be heard saying, “To anybody who got this letter, you might want to read it.” He then drops it in the box and says, “There it is, you can see it’s getting shipped. Revolution. It’s time for change.”
Police apparently know the man who took the video and he actually spoke with another news station and said he had no idea what Jakubowski was planning. He suggested his friend turn himself in.
Janesville Police Chief David Mooreheld a press conference on Friday, describing Jakubowski as “armed and dangerous.” Anyone who sees him was warned not to approach him and call authorities. The Rock County County Sheriff and FBI Special Agents from the Milwaukee Field Office have joined in the manhunt.
WATCH:
Moore told reporters Jakubowski has a prior record, even having served time in prison, but he said the anti-government, revolution talk “is a new element” of Jakubowski’s personality previously unknown to everyone in the law enforcement community.
The guns were stolen from the Armageddon Gun Shop on Tuesday evening, the same night Moore said he burned his vehicle.
A person described as an “associate” of Jakubowski’s warned police of the plans to rob the gun store and then participate in some sort of “unspecified attack.” It was from this associate that authorities discovered a copy of the 161-page manifesto, allegedly written by Jakubowski. It is now in possession of federal authorities, who are conducting analysis for clues.
“I can tell you that we don’t know where Mr. Jakubowski is,” Sheriff Moore said. “He could be around Janesville. He could be around Rock County. He may not even be in Wisconsin.”
Out of an abundance of caution and until he is found, Moore has at least 150 law enforcement personnel from the local, state and federal level searching approximately a dozen locations in the hopes if finding the wanted man. A $10,oo0 reward is being offered for information leading to his arrest.
Jakubowski is said to 32 years old, 5 feet, 10 inches tall with green eyes and brown hair. It is believed he acquired a bulletproof vest and other tactical gear during his time on the run.
