A former adviser to Vice President Kamala Harris who is now a Democratic strategist says he contacted law enforcement after receiving a direct message from conservative influencer Laura Loomer that threatened him and his family amid an online dispute following the assassination of commentator Charlie Kirk.
Mike Nellis posted on social media Friday that Loomer messaged him saying, "you and your son are going to hell," and that he was "on the phone with the police". Nellis said he and his family were safe and that he had officially filed a police report.
The confrontation traces to a broader online quarrel over reactions to Kirk's killing and criticism of his political stances. Nellis, who has previously called former President Donald Trump a "fascist" over threats to send police to Chicago and noted ties to a judge involved in Trump's hush-money case, accused Loomer of stoking attacks on him. Loomer responded on the social platform X with a post alleging Nellis should be investigated and accusing him of raising his child "to be a mini communist." She also wrote that "people like @MikeNellis who got Charlie Kirk assassinated," and said federal authorities should be monitoring him.
Nellis said Loomer had previously doxxed his home address and that her messages had become personal. He told followers that he had the influencer muted and was only seeing her posts when others forwarded them to him. Loomer replied in posts saying Nellis was making a false police claim and accused him of evading a congressional subpoena, asserting that filing a false police report is a crime.
There is no apparent record of Loomer calling Kirk a "fascist," although Mediaite and other outlets reported that extremist commentator Nicholas Fuentes called Kirk a "fascist" and a "traitor" in May. After Kirk's death, Loomer deleted a July 13 post harshly criticizing him in which she called him a political opportunist.
The online fight has played out against an ongoing criminal investigation into the fatal shooting of Kirk, a conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA who was shot at an event on a college campus earlier this week. Authorities announced Friday that the main suspect, identified as Tyler Robinson, a student and Utah native, was turned over to police by a family member who said they suspected him of the killing.
Investigators said bullets recovered from the scene bore inscriptions referencing internet culture and anti-fascist sentiments. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said a family member told investigators that Robinson had mentioned Kirk's planned appearance at Utah Valley University and discussed disliking Kirk's viewpoints. Officials said the suspect had become more political in recent years.
Former Trump adviser and others in conservative circles weighed in after the arrest. President Donald Trump called for the death penalty for the suspect and described Kirk as "the finest person." Fuentes, who previously clashed with Kirk and whose supporters have used violent language online, went live on Thursday night to call the killing a "tragedy" and to tell his followers he disavowed anyone who takes up arms.
Kirk, a father of two, collapsed after being shot at the event and was later pronounced dead. Law enforcement has said the investigation is ongoing; authorities have not publicly disclosed charges against Robinson beyond announcing that he was handed over to police by family members and that evidence recovered at the scene included bullets with inscriptions.
The online exchanges between Nellis and Loomer underscore the heightened tensions on social platforms in the wake of the killing and the way partisan disputes can quickly become personal. Nellis' account of receiving threatening messages and his decision to involve police come as officials continue to probe motive and potential online influences on the alleged shooter. Loomer has remained a vocal conservative commentator and frequently posts about political opponents; Nellis' public statements frame the messages as part of a pattern of harassment he says dates to last year.
Authorities have asked anyone with relevant information about the shooting or the suspect to contact local law enforcement as the investigation proceeds.