Former U.S. Army soldier Christian Beyer sentenced to 24 months in prison for threatening a mass shooting at Fort Irwin.
At a Glance
- Christian Beyer, 42, was sentenced to 24 months in prison for threatening a mass shooting at Fort Irwin.
- Beyer posted a YouTube video in October 2023, threatening specific soldiers at Fort Irwin.
- He claimed knowledge of how to access the base undetected and vowed to harm soldiers and their families.
- Authorities captured Beyer on November 1 after a brief period of evasion.
Christian Beyer Sentenced for Threatening Fort Irwin
Christian Beyer, a former U.S. Army soldier, has been sentenced to 24 months in prison following a YouTube video in which he threatened to carry out a mass shooting at Fort Irwin. Beyer, 42, had been court-martialed and left the Army in 2023. In his video, he singled out specific military personnel and claimed he could access the base without detection. His arrest on November 1 marked the end of a brief evasion period and triggered a substantial response from law enforcement.
Beyer pleaded guilty to sending threats via interstate communication three months prior to his sentencing. In the videos, which authorities discovered dating back to September 2023, he described plans to “hunt” soldiers and their families. Law enforcement officials began searching for Beyer in late October, during which he threatened senior citizens with a knife and a car.
Former soldier pleads guilty to threatening mass shooting at Fort Irwin https://t.co/UhLuFgZrI3
— Task & Purpose (@TaskandPurpose) June 30, 2024
Nature of the Threats
Beyer’s videos detailed his knowledge of ways to bypass Fort Irwin’s main gates and included explicit threats against military personnel and their families. “I’m coming for you. I’m gonna kill your whole something family if they stay there,” he stated in one of the videos.
“Mr. Beyer’s desire to carry out violence against members of our military and their families led to a federal prison sentence,” United States Attorney Martin Estrada said in a statement from the Department of Justice. “Our military servicemembers deserve better and we will continue to prosecute those who seek to harm public servants.”
On October 30, Beyer posted the most recent video outlining these threats. He had a previous altercation in Mendocino County, where he brandished a knife at elderly individuals before being captured at his father’s home in Sonoma County.
Law Enforcement and Legal Actions
The investigation, led by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force in Los Angeles, underscores the seriousness with which authorities take threats against military personnel. U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada emphasized the necessity of prosecuting such threats, while Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Coe-Odess and Assistant Director Akil Davis reiterated the commitment to ensuring the safety and security of military members and their families through vigilant law enforcement and legal action.
“Today’s sentence is a stern reminder that anyone who harms innocent military members and their families will serve jail time,” said Akil Davis, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. “The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force will continue to investigate all threats against those who bravely serve their country.”
United States District Judge Suzanne S. Sykes carried out the sentencing, which highlights the serious consequences for those who threaten violence against military personnel. Authorities maintain that Beyer’s actions are taken as a grave transgression against the integrity and safety of those serving in the U.S. armed forces.
