A Story County man who threatened to use an AR-15 during Iowa State’s upcoming commencement is now being charged federally with stalking.
The federal criminal affidavit stated that Tanner Bandy, 28, of Nevada, Iowa, was in possession of multiple guns and had details of the commencement ceremony taped to his bathroom mirror with May 16 written below in a “large size.”
Bandy will remain in federal custody pending court proceedings, according to a press release Wednesday by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa.
On April 16, Bandy attempted to renew his permit to purchase a firearm at the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office and the Nevada Police Department, according to previous reporting by the Daily.
The affidavit stated that on the same day, ISUPD received a report from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources about a person shooting at a printed picture of an individual in Iowa City.
The vehicle and gun described at the shooting range are “similar to” Bandy’s vehicle and gun. License plate readers in Iowa City also captured Bandy’s vehicle driving “on or around” the time of the incident.
“I know from my training and experience that during the preparation phase of attack planning, individuals will often practice with the weapons they intend to utilize to conduct an attack,” the FBI agent stated in the sworn affidavit.
After Bandy was arrested on April 17, law enforcement searched Bandy’s car and home. They found a loaded Glock pistol in his car and a Winchester 12-gauge shotgun in his home.
Law enforcement also found 38 rounds of 5.56 ammunition and “additional” 12-gauge shotgun ammunition.
On Monday, the State of Iowa moved to dismiss the case without prejudice to allow the State to pursue charges after the federal government.
Previously, Bandy was charged with one count of stalking, a class C felony, and five counts of first-degree harassment, an aggravated misdemeanor.
Bandy’s preliminary and detention hearing is scheduled for May 1 at the U.S. District Courthouse in Des Moines, Iowa.
