A former soldier has been arrested in California after he threatened to kill soldiers and law enforcement officials at Fort Irwin, located in San Bernardino County, according to federal authorities.
“Christian Ernest Beyer, 41, of Petaluma, has been charged with interstate threats, a crime that carries a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison,” a Justice Department press release announced Thursday.
Although Beyer appears to have a history of violent behavior going back several years, it was a series of YouTube videos, posted on Oct. 30 in which the former soldier threatened the commanding general of the base, the chief of police for the post, and a senior enlisted soldier, that resulted in federal charges.
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According to records provided to Military.com by the Army, Beyer joined the service in August 2000 and served as an armor crewman for nearly 23 years, leaving in March 2023 as a sergeant first class. In that time, he deployed to Iraq three times, including during the opening days of Operation Iraqi Freedom in April 2003. He also deployed to Kuwait twice.
The Army offered no other details about his service, including awards or the nature of his discharge, but service court records show he faced court-martial in 2022 that, among other punishments, demoted him to sergeant first…
