P.J. Man Arrested on 'Vigilante Justice' Charges Related To Glenwood Shooting

A Pacific Junction man was arrested last week and charged with going armed with intent, a Class “D” felony,  and carrying weapons, an aggravated misdemeanor, after making a statement on Facebook to seek vigilante justice in connection with the shooting of Colton McDaniel that occurred Sept. 27 in Glenwood.

Liam Russell Whitehouse, 20, of Pacific Junction was arrested Sept. 29 after a Mills County deputy initiated a traffic stop of Whitehouse along the 800 block of East Sharp St. in Glenwood. Glenwood police officers assisted at the stop where upon a search of Whitehouse’s vehicle, a gun was found under the driver’s seat and a samurai sword was discovered in the trunk.

Mills County Attorney Tricia McSorley said authorities were well aware of Whitehouse’s Facebook posting on the night of the shooting that read in part, “This is a call to arms. Everyone who wants to extract some vigilante justice because of what happened to Colton McDaniel, meet at the Glenwood Lake park at 9:30 . . . Colton is like a brother to me. It’s time to ride or die.”
McSorley said law enforcement officers were at the park at the time designated in Whitehouse’s Facebook post and they encountered several people, including some who came to the park with the intent of confronting Whitehouse and others calling for “vigilante justice.” McSorley said social media posts concerning the incident are being monitored on a regular basis by law enforcement officers.

“We are monitoring things on social media and the Internet,” McSorley said. “It almost feels more like a rumor mill out there than anything else.”
McSorley said all threats will be taken seriously.

“Any threats and/or vigilante justice will not be tolerated,” McSorley said during a news conference last week. “Any such activities will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. It is important to all of us that the community continues to feel safe.”

If convicted of the felony, Whitehouse faces up to five years in prison and a fine up to $7,500. The misdemeanor is punishable by up to two years in prison and a fine up to $6,250. Whitehouse has bonded out of jail and is scheduled to appear in Mills County Magistrate Court.