LAS VEGAS, NV. (THECOUNT) — Nevada man, Conor Climo, who was arrested Friday and accused of possessing bomb making materials along with a plan to attack Las Vegas synagogue and LGBTQ establishments, was once featured in the local press over his roaming Las Vegas streets with an AR-15 while in full tactical gear – acting on his own – as a neighborhood vigilante.
The following incredible story on the 23-year-old former US Army Combat Engineer appeared on KTNV September 2016:
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The armed civilian planning on starting neighborhood patrols has told 13 Action News he has postponed his efforts while he works on a new strategy.
Conor Climo took to the streets Thursday wearing a vest full of magazines and armed with an AR-rifle.
“I realized I didn’t need all that gear,” says Climo.
He has a new strategy now.
“There have been some people completely critical, and I personally admire their criticism,” says Climo.
Tony Twocrow does neighborhood watch patrols in his own neighborhood.
“I’m not that extreme, I approach people a different way,” says Twocrow,
After our story aired Thursday night, Twocrow reached out to Climo, saying he was willing to volunteer under one condition.
“Let’s put the gun down, that’s a bit extreme,” says Twocrow.
While the two may have different approaches to how they patrol their neighborhoods, they plan to work together.
Climo says several other people also reached out to him, willing to volunteer. He agreed to drop his weapon if it meant more support.
“We need to establish neighborhood watch programs throughout all of Las Vegas,” says Climo.
Climo says the new volunteers will meet Monday, and they hope to start patrols on Tuesday.
PopularMilitary picked up on the story and spun it this way:
A former US Army Combat Engineer was taking to the streets with his rifle in the desert heat- and Las Vegas residents weren’t happy about it.
Conor Climo patrolled the streets of a Las Vegas suburb armed with an AR-15 semiautomatic rifle and Cold War-era web gear on last week, causing alarm among his neighborhood’s residents.
“If there is possibly a very determined enemy, we at least have the means to deal with it,” Climo said last week.
The 20-year-old was armed with a rifle and a knife, carrying spare ammo in a Cold War-era Enhanced Tactical Load Bearing Vest that is commonly issued with TA-50 but never used by modern forces.
Police said his actions were legal as long as he stays away from restricted zones, like schools and certain government buildings.
Now the FBI is saying they may have foiled an impending attack in Las Vegas plotted by none other than, Climo.
The U.S. Justice Department confirmed Climo’s Friday arrest and arraignment after authorities discovered bomb-making materials at his home following an FBI-led Joint Terrorism Task Force investigation.
Authorities say a notebook in his possession contained drawings of timed explosive devices.
Officials say Climo claimed to have tried to recruit a homeless individual for pre-attack surveillance against at least one Las Vegas synagogue and other targets, reports FOXLA.
The suspect was charged by a criminal complaint with one count of possession of an unregistered firearm, “namely, the component parts of a destructive device,” said the Department of Justice. He was arrested Thursday morning and made his first court appearance on Friday.
DEVELOPING::
Geo quick facts: Las Vegas, officially the City of Las Vegas and often known simply as Vegas, is the 28th-most populated city in the United States, the most populated city in the state of Nevada, and the county seat of Clark County – Wikipedia.