(NewsNation) — A Wisconsin teenager charged with killing his parents as part of a plot to assassinate President Donald Trump is part of a broader rise of domestic terrorism, according to former FBI special agent Stuart Kaplan.
He joined “NewsNation Now” to discuss how it is increasing across the United States, largely thanks to social media.
“The trouble I see is that social media and the media generally play a very integral part in adding an accelerant to these now lone wolves,” Kaplan said.
“Back in my day in the FBI, we were more concerned about organized groups targeting or engaging in what was classic domestic terrorism. Now we see individuals, and I think these individuals are drawn by that common thread that social media, as well as our media platforms, are drawing in these people that, quite frankly, I think underneath it, have some mental health issues that are not in check.”
Nikita Casap, 17, was charged last month by Waukesha County authorities with first-degree murder, theft and other crimes in the deaths of his mother, Tatiana Casap, and his stepfather, Donald Mayer.
Authorities allege the teenager fatally shot them at their home outside Milwaukee in February and lived with the decomposing bodies for weeks before fleeing with $14,000 cash, passports and the family dog. He was arrested last month in Kansas.
“Casap appears to have written a manifest calling for the assassination of the President of the United States. He was in touch with other parties about his plan to kill the President and overthrow the government of the United States,” a search warrant said.
“The killing of his parents appeared to be an effort to obtain the financial means and autonomy necessary to carrying out his plan.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.