FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 25, 2020

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – On March 24, 2020, the FBI executed a probable cause arrest of Timothy Wilson, 36, at the 100th block of Wilbur Parish Circle, Belton, Mo, at the conclusion of a long-running domestic terrorism investigation. While attempting to arrest Wilson, who was armed, was injured and was transported to an area hospital where he was later pronounced deceased.

Wilson was the subject of a months-long domestic terrorism investigation, which revealed him to be a potentially violent extremist, motived by racial, religious, and anti government animus. Wilson was actively planning to commit an act of domestic terrorism – a bombing – and over the course of several months had considered several targets.

With the current health crisis, Wilson decided to accelerate his plan to use a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) in an attempt to cause severe harm and mass casualties.

Wilson considered various targets and ultimately settled on an area hospital in an attempt to harm many people, targeting a facility that is providing critical medical care in today’s environment. Wilson had taken the necessary steps to acquire materials needed to build an explosive device.

At all times during the investigation, the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force kept close track of Wilson in order to protect public safety.

In close coordination with prosecutors from the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri, the FBI was prepared to arrest Wilson when he arrived to pick up what he thought was a VBIED. There was no actual bomb. The FBI has and will continue to aggressively work with our local partners and our Joint Terrorism Task Force to combat and prevent any acts of terrorism. We remain mission focused to protect the safety and well-being of our communities we serve.