Libertarian Senate Candidate Arrested After Armed Standoff Near Cary School

Jonathan Miller, a Libertarian candidate for the North Carolina state Senate, was arrested Monday afternoon after an armed standoff with police near Resurrection Lutheran School in Cary. The confrontation ended when officers closed in on Miller and took him into custody without incident around 3 p.m.

The incident began when Miller posted cryptic messages on X suggesting he was being pursued by law enforcement. Around 9:38 a.m., he wrote that the entire police department was chasing him with guns drawn. He added that he had six shots and held the high ground, hoping officers would not find him but promising a show if they did.

Police received calls from concerned members of the public after Miller posted messages on Sunday night indicating he was considering suicide. Officers attempted to check on his welfare Monday morning. During the encounter, Miller was carrying a firearm. He fled into the woods after an officer ordered him not to touch the weapon.

Miller spoke with WRAL, a local NBC affiliate, during the standoff. He explained that he had posted a suicide note on X the previous night, which had gone viral. He said he spent the night crying and feeling depressed but decided not to kill himself. He described making coffee and smoking a cigarette when an officer approached him, recognizing his name and seeing his holstered revolver.

The officer drew his weapon and ordered Miller to keep his hands away from his gun. Miller said he refused the order and backed away until he could turn and run into the woods. He later posted to X around 1:46 p.m. that he had been talking to a hostage negotiator while officers moved in around him, allowing him to spot one and escape.

Cary Police Chief Terry Sult stated that Miller had a warrant for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Police urged pedestrians and motorists to avoid the area, fearing the public could be in harm's way. Resurrection Lutheran School, a private K-8 institution, placed under a code yellow lockdown for part of the day while officers searched for Miller.

Miller has been charged with communicating threats, resisting a public officer, going armed to the terror of the people, and possession of a firearm by a felon. No shots were fired during the confrontation, according to police. Chase Oliver, the 2024 Libertarian presidential nominee, pleaded with Miller to lay down his arms, to which Miller replied that he had reached the tree line.

The Libertarian Party of North Carolina told the New York Post it was aware of the situation. The party thanked law enforcement for pursuing a solution without involving violence. Miller is challenging a Democratic incumbent on a platform that includes weakening legal protections for police, repealing drug laws, and reducing economic regulations.