Defendant's DNA was found on gas can in failed arson of news vehicle in
Utah, prosecutors say
[October 08, 2025]
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A man's DNA was found on a gasoline
can that was placed under a news vehicle in a failed arson attempt in
Salt Lake City, federal prosecutors allege in court documents.
Christopher Solomon Proctor, 45, lit a fuse attached to the 2.5 gallon
(9.5 liter) plastic gas container that he had put under a news vehicle
owned by the local Fox affiliate, KSTU-TV, that was parked outside of a
building on Sept. 12, according to the filings. The fuse went out before
the gas ignited.
Proctor has pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted arson and
possession of an unregistered destructive device. His attorney, Richard
Sorenson, didn't respond to emails seeking comment.
During a hearing Monday, U.S. Magistrate Judge Dustin Pead ordered
Proctor, who was arrested Sept. 29, to remain in jail until his trial.
Pead said there was evidence that Proctor had planned to repeat the
attempt, despite family and friends insisting that Proctor posed no
danger to others, according to court documents.
A license plate reader recorded Proctor's vehicle near the scene within
minutes of the crime, and investigators found items in Proctor's home
similar to those used to carry out the attempted arson, including black
boots, a different gas can that also had a hole carved in the top, and a
portion of fuse, Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Thorpe wrote.
According to prosecutors, Proctor bought more fuse days after the failed
attempt and returned to the crime scene a week later. Proctor “had
mentioned burning Fox News on previous occasions” to others, and told an
acquaintance that he lit a fuse under a “fox news” vehicle but it did
not blow up, Thorpe wrote.
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“That purchase, the presence of another gas-can at his residence and
the deliberate resurveilling of the news station lead to an
inference that the defendant may not have been satisfied with his
failed attempt,” Thorpe wrote.
The day after the alleged arson attempt, two men were arrested on
suspicion of placing a makeshift bomb under the KSTU-TV news
vehicle. Investigators searched their home and found two sticks of
inactive dynamite that the men claimed were real, according to court
documents. They were charged in state court with crimes including
possessing hoax explosives. However, the men are not being
prosecuted for crimes related to the gas can found under the
vehicle.
Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill said Tuesday that the
charges were based on the information presented to the office and
referred questions regarding the news vehicle to federal
authorities.
The federal court documents make no mention of the two men.
The incident happened two days after conservative activist Charlie
Kirk was killed during an event at Utah Valley University in Orem,
about 35 miles (55 kilometers) south of Salt Lake City. Thorpe said
at Monday's hearing that there is no evidence linking the alleged
arson attempt to Kirk’s death, KSTU-TV reported.
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