Pennsylvania Man Details ‘Citizen’s Arrest’ Attempt Before Father’s Murder
A Pennsylvania man accused of fatally shooting and beheading his father told a court on Wednesday that the horrific act was “Plan B” after an attempt to arrest his father for alleged treason and false statements. Justin D. Mohn, 33, is on trial for the January 30, 2024, murder of his father, Michael F. Mohn, in Levittown, Pennsylvania.
Mohn, appearing in court with his arms shackled, testified for over two hours, speaking clearly and exhibiting little visible emotion during both direct and cross-examination. He recounted to his attorney, Steven Jones, that he shot his father in the bathroom of their home after informing him of his intent to place him under citizen’s arrest. Mohn claimed his father, described as an experienced martial artist, threatened to kill him before reaching for a firearm.
“Unfortunately, he resisted,” Mohn stated, explaining his intention was to arrest his father for “ultimately, treason.” He referenced a notebook discovered during the investigation, containing the phrases “Boom” and “Slice,” as his contingency plan should his father not cooperate.
The defendant described political differences with his parents, characterizing them as left-leaning. He alleged his father attempted to thwart his ambitions of entering politics, potentially mirroring the career of former President Donald Trump, and that his father made false statements during a separate civil case Mohn brought before a federal court.
When questioned about the beheading, Mohn asserted it was intended as a message to federal government workers, demanding their resignations and the cancellation of public debt, among other demands. He insisted the act was not motivated by hatred for his father or a desire to inflict trauma on his family. His mother, Denice Mohn, was visibly distraught at the conclusion of the direct questioning.
“I knew something such as a severed head would not only go viral but could lessen the violence,” Mohn claimed.
Prosecutors presented evidence indicating Mohn shot his father with a recently purchased pistol and subsequently decapitated him using a kitchen knife and machete. A 14-minute video of the aftermath was uploaded to YouTube, remaining online for several hours before its removal.
Following the homicide, Mohn was apprehended after scaling a fence at Fort Indiantown Gap, the state’s National Guard headquarters. He acknowledged in court that jumping the fence was wrong. Authorities stated he had also called for others to join him in an attempt to overthrow the U.S. government.
At the time of his arrest, Mohn possessed a USB device containing images of federal buildings and what appeared to be instructions for constructing explosives. Investigators also discovered a history of violent, anti-government rhetoric in his online writings spanning several years. Prior to the killing, police had visited the family home to warn Mohn about his concerning online postings, as testified by his mother, Denice Mohn.
Denice Mohn also shared that she and her husband had been providing financial assistance and career guidance to their son.
Prosecutors characterized the murder as a “cold, calculated, organized plan” designed to intimidate federal workers, describing the crime as “something straight out of a horror film.” Michael Mohn, a geoenvironmental engineer with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Philadelphia District, was remembered by neighbors as a supportive father and good community member. In contrast, Justin Mohn labeled his father a “traitor” in the YouTube video.
During a competency hearing last year, a defense expert revealed Mohn had written a letter to the Russian ambassador to the United States, seeking asylum and apologizing to President Vladimir Putin for previously claiming to be the “czar of Russia.” The judge ultimately determined Mohn was competent to stand trial.
The bench trial, presided over by a judge without a jury, included the presentation of graphic photographs and the disturbing YouTube video. The judge cautioned members of the public about the graphic content, allowing them to leave the courtroom before its presentation. The case continues as authorities attempt to fully understand the motivations behind this shocking act of violence.
