The Federal Bureau of Investigation has arrested a transgender-identifying person who was planning a targeted attack on Black and Jewish people as well as “transphobic” co-workers.
The suspect is a 56-year-old named Elizabeth Ballesteros West, who lives in Oregon.
West reportedly posted threats to kill or harm Jewish and Black people online alongside images of a Nazi flag and a stockpile of guns. West, who has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, was found to be in possession of 16 rifles, 11 handguns, and tens of thousands of ammunition rounds.
According to an affidavit from FBI Special Agent Damara Gonzalez filed on Jan. 12, the agency received an anonymous tip about a Facebook post from West that contained a workplace threat.
The post read:Well, I wish I had better news to tell but what I’m writing to you right now is the fact that I’m at the end of my rope I’m probably gonna get fired from his job. I’m […] supposed to be called into the office this morning so I wonder what lies are going to spew in order to justify firing me. I’m too old to keep looking for jobs and I’ve had it up to here being bullied by trans phobic assholes I am left with no alternative. I’ll probably have to go out in a blaze of glory. I’ve been preparing for this moment a long time at least then I’ll be remember I have no family no friends… So there really isn’t any point living anymore? I’m just gonna have to do what I have to do and pray for the gods to forgive me.
Included was an image of two firearms.
The FBI reportedly worked with a confidential human source (CHS) who gave information about the suspect's personal life.
“According to the CHS, West was arrested in 1993 for placing a shot gun in the mouth of her father and pulling the trigger, but the gun did not go off,” states the affidavit. “According to the CHS, while West was in a relationship with her boyfriend, they would attend Neo-Nazi rallies in an unknown location in Washington. West and her boyfriend would host members from the rallies at their residence. This was approximately nine years ago and the CHS was unaware of West attending any rallies since.”
The CHS told the FBI that West “has the potential to kill others, and that West has access to weapons and lots of ammunition.”
West was interviewed twice by the FBI – on Sept. 28, 2023, and Oct. 12, 2023. West described feeling suicidal and lonely, and used the term “n------” to refer to black people.
The affidavit noted that West was meeting with a therapist as well as a primary care physician and had been approved for an initial consultation for gender reassignment surgery.
When agents spoke to West in October, the suspect had been fired and “she did not have plans to hurt herself or others and that she had not researched active shooters.”
“West explained she still has access to firearms, although they were of more interest to her in her ‘boy days,'" the filing reports. "Now that she is in her ‘girl days’ she does not need the firearms. However, West did not want to give the firearms to the sheriff’s office, because she lives in a rural area and may need the protection.”
The affidavit goes on to state:West told the Agents that in 1990 she was assaulted by three black males, and it was this personal attack that set off a “personal prejudice” in West against black people. West also feels that black customer service agents’ mis-gender her intentionally. West’s boyfriend, who died in 2017, had a Nazi flag. After his death she found the flag and kept it. West has not sent images of herself with the Nazi flag to anyone. West has mixed feelings about Nazi sentiments. She is juxtaposed on the climate in Israel; West feels Jewish people treat Palestinians in the same manner as the Nazis treated the Jews. West is also angry that immigrants come to the United States and receive welfare and food stamps on her tax dollars, yet she is unable to access the same benefits. The agents informed West that it is her constitutional right to engage in the freedom of speech, but she cannot advocate for violence against individuals.
Throughout November and December, West shared images of weapons on X alongside racial slurs under the handle @West30602. FBI agents became concerned West’s behavior was escalating and tried to set up a third interview. Although West did not reply to their messages, agents confirmed West's home address while pretending to be calling from a local electric company.
Agents ultimately met with West at a coffee shop on Jan. 3 to discuss the posts and West’s mental health. They executed a search warrant on Jan. 9. In addition to the weapons and ammunition, agents seized “a black book that matched the description of West’s 'black shadow' journal, 48 drawings, and a black and white composition notebook containing notes made by West.”
Gonzales believes West violated Title 18, United States Code, Section 875(c), Interstate Threatening Communications.
“Based on the facts above, I believe there is probable cause to believe West’s original Facebook posting constitutes an interstate threat, especially based on the accompanying photograph of firearms,” the agent wrote. “Additionally, the large amount of weapons and ammunition recovered from her residence and subsequent X posts (including clear violent animus toward specific minority groups and the display of firearms) indicate a willingness to elevate her original threat of violence towards specific minority groups.”
