Court documents show that the 19-year old Missouri man who is accused of intentionally driving a box truck into an White House barrier told authorities he admires Nazis, and wished to “seize control” and “kill President Obama,” according to court documents.
A Secret Service agent stated in a written statement of facts filed at the federal district court of Washington D.C. that Sai Varshith Kandula of Chesterfield in Missouri rented a U-Haul truck on Monday night, immediately after flying one-way from St. Louis International Airport to Dulles International Airport.
The statement was attached to a criminal complaint accusing Kandula of depredation over $1,000 of United States property.
According to the document, around 9:35 pm, he drove his vehicle onto the sidewalk just outside the White House. He then crashed into a metal barricade located north of the White House.
Documents state that Kandula reversed the truck and hit the barrier for a second crash before United States Park Police officers arrested him.
According to a court document, when Secret Service agents questioned Kandula regarding a flag with the swastika that he had removed from his backpack, he said he bought it online as Nazis “have such a rich history.”
The document claims that he said “admires [their] ‘authoritarian, Eugenics and one-world order'”. It also states that Kandula identified Hitler, as a strong leader he admires.
The document claims that Kandula told authorities he planned the attack over a period of six months, and detailed his plans in a “green book”.
The document says that he “stated his aim was to get into the White House and seize power in order to be placed in charge of the country.” When agents asked KANDULA how he planned to seize power, KANDULA replied that he would “Kill the President and hurt anyone who stood in my way.”
The FBI was seen Tuesday entering and exiting Kandula’s home in Chesterfield, a suburb of St. Louis, where he lives. A number of his friends struggled to connect the alleged assault with the “chill teen” they know.
Capt. Daniel Dunn said that the police in Chesterfield had no record of any interactions with Kandula, or requests for service at the family residence. Daniel Dunn stated.
Dunn stated that federal agents were in charge of the investigation.
Errion Barfield was on the Marquette High School team that Kandula was a part of. He remembered him as quiet, unassuming, and modest.
Barfield told NBC News in a message on Facebook that “he was cool and nice.” “Ain’t expected him to ever do that.”
Kandula belonged to the large South Asian community of Chesterfield. This middle class suburb is located about 20 miles west from St. Louis.
Pranav Nagila was one year older than Kandula and couldn’t understand how his former schoolmate could have a Nazi flag.
Nagila said that he did not find him intimidating or anything of the sort. Nagila just completed his second year at University of Alabama in Birmingham. “He seemed to be a very chill person.”
Kandula made an initial court appearance Wednesday in federal court after appearing in Washington D.C. Superior Court Tuesday.
It was not immediately clear whether Kandula had an attorney to speak for him.
