Las Vegas Shooters’ Facebook Profiles Offer Insight into Motive

The Facebook pages of Jared Miller and Amanda Woodruff Miller, who conducted a shooting spree that killed two police officers and an innocent civilian in Las Vegas, Nevada, provide significant insight into the reasons the led the couple to carry out the violent act.

Postings on their Facebook pages and other internet sites, including YouTube, clearly show that the couple viewed themselves as patriots that were prepared to wage war against the current US government, which they viewed as tyrannical and fascist.

The Facebook pages of the couple, especially Jared Miller's, did not hide their anti-government beliefs. Nor did they hide their desire to act upon them even appearing to hint about their upcoming shooting spree. On June 7, 2014, Jerad Miller posted on his Facebook that it was “The dawn of a new day. May all of our coming sacrifices be worth it.” Furthermore, almost a month prior to the shooting spree, Miller foreshadowed the events that would occur, including the couple’s own deaths. He wrote:

There is no greater cause to die for than liberty. To die for that cause is easy, to live for it is another matter. I will willingly die for liberty. Death, in a sense is freedom from tyranny. Death, is the easy way out. Most notably is the "suicide by cop" routine. Yes, standing before despots is dangerous and most likely does not end well for you. I know this, my wife knows this. Soon they will come for us, because they don't like what we think, and what we say. They don't like the fact that we, simply will not submit to fascist rule. We don't have much, but we are willing to sacrifice everything.......for you, for your freedoms. Even if you wouldn't let us have ours. We know who we are and what we stand for, do you?

 

A month later, Jerad issued a similar call to violence. In the post he reiterates that fighting and dying would help to end oppression and lead to a free country. His June 2, 2014, message reads:

We can hope for peace. We must, however, prepare for war. We face an enemy that is not only well funded, but who believe they fight for freedom and justice. Those of us who know the truth and dare speak it, know that the enemy we face are indeed our brothers. Even though they share the same masters as we all do. They fail to recognize the chains that bind them. To stop this oppression, I fear, can only be accomplished with bloodshed. May the best men of our beloved nation stand and fight tyranny, without fear and without regret. May we stand proud as free men instead of kneeling as slaves. May we offer our children a free and just world with our blood, sweat and tears as payment.

While the media and law enforcement initially speculated that the Millers were connected to white supremacist movement, Jerad Miller’s posts appear more akin to those of anti-government and militia movements. Attempting to explain his views in a post on January 20, 2013, Jerad Miller stated:

Tyranny has many forms. The question is, can you see it as it is, or do you see the smoke and mirrors that are presented to us? We, as americans live in a fictional reality that is presented to us by the federal government. They tell us they are the good guys. Yet we have caught them in lie after lie. They arrest and incarcerate people who, have not committed a crime against another person. The IRS will confiscate everything you own just on suspicion of tax evasion or drug dealing.

 

Several months after the post, Miller again used Nazi imagery in depicting the judicial system in America. Miller joyously recounted openly comparing a Judge he was in front of, for at least one Marijuana related offense, to that of Nazi war criminals. His May 13, 2013, post reads:

Mark one up for freedom today. I stood before a fascist judge today and implied that he was a Nazi. I told him I did not recognize his authority over me and reminded him that 2 states now have legalized weed for recreational use. I also informed him that now, since the fast and furious scandal, that continuing the war on drugs is treason. He said to me "I may not agree with the law, but it is my duty to enforce it." To which I replied “Nazis during the war criminal trials stated that they, were just following orders and enforcing the law, and we hung those people.”

 

In a December 30, 2012, post, Miller explained that he views the US Constitution as a more important document than any religious book. He stated:

I believe that the united states constitution and the bill of rights are holier documents than the holy bible and the koran. The reason, well, religion creates oppression. The constitution however creates freedom and allows religion to exist. Religion however would like to see the bill of rights and the constitution obliterated so they may bring upon the new dark ages.

 

Just as many of the posts follow along the lines of the militia movement, some remarks made by Miller verge on those made by Sovereign Citizens. On January 30, 2013, he commented:

Today is day one of the resistance. Today I declare that I will not acknowledge unconstitutional laws or authority figures. I am invoking the right to resist law here in Indiana. Any attempt to take me away by unlawful warrant will be met with resistance. Enough talk, its time for action.

 

In addition to his numerous personal messages that he posted on Facebook, Miller frequently shared or reposted images and messages that were in support of gun rights, espoused conspiracy theories, in support of or anti-federal government views.

Unlike her husband’s Facebook page, Amanda Miller did not make any posts indicative of her political beliefs, but did mention in a post on February 8, 2014 that she was making dinner while “Jerad is at a Sheriffs debate,” an alleged picture of which can be seen on Mr. Miller’s Facebook page. While her personal posts appear inane, Amanda liked several other Facebook pages that spoke to politics and activism, including “Lafayette Area Activists,” which focused heavily on keeping fluoride out of water sources around Lafayette, Indiana, as well as the “Lagalization of maruijuana [sic]” page created by Mr. Miller.

Additionally, Mrs. Miller has a photo album stored on her Facebook page that documents her and Jerad attending and participating in the Million Mask March in Lafayette, Indiana. The album caption reads “Million Mask March Lafayette Indiana November 5th 2013! Fighting Corrupt Government.” The photos show the couple, wearing masks, carrying a sign reading “Ask me why I wear a MASK;” as well as standing as part of a group shot with people who are allegedly connected to the Anonymous hacking collective.