A jury has found Trevor J. Lunney, a 39-year-old man from Lewiston, guilty of making threats to kill his lawyer, prosecutor, and members of the public. The verdict was announced by United States Attorney Vanessa R. Waldref.
The trial revealed that in July 2022, while under Washington State community custody for a previous conviction involving threats to kill, Lunney sent threatening messages to his Department of Corrections (DOC) officer. He mentioned that "in 19 days, mass violence becomes inevitable," and discussed plans for a school shooting at an Asotin County School District school and a mass shooting at the Asotin County Fair parade.
On July 18, 2022, Lunney was arrested by the Clarkston Police Department after continuing to make specific threats about committing mass shootings. He was taken into custody at the Asotin County Jail on felony charges brought by the Asotin County Prosecutor’s Office.
While in jail, Lunney made monitored communications expressing anger towards the criminal justice system and discussing plans to obtain an AR-15 for mass murder. On December 5th, 2022, he sent an email stating intentions for a "murder-suicide" with his lawyer and plans to attack prosecutors upon release.
United States District Judge Thomas O. Rice presided over Lunney's two-day trial beginning December 9, 2024. Sentencing is scheduled for March 13, 2025.
U.S. Attorney Waldref commented on the case: “Mr. Lunney made terrifying threats to commit violence... The verdict announced today will keep Mr. Lunney in prison and will hopefully allow him to get the mental health treatment he needs.”
Special Agent in Charge Shohini Sinha of the Salt Lake City FBI emphasized: “Threats of violence have serious consequences as they disrupt lives... The FBI takes all threats of violence very seriously.”
The investigation was conducted by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Tyler H.L. Tornabene and Dan Fruchter.