Lewiston Man Sentenced for Making Violent Threats to Kill Local Prosecutor, Defense Attorney, and Commit Mass Murder

Spokane, Washington –United States District Judge Thomas O. Rice has sentenced Trevor J. Lunney, 39, of Lewiston, Idaho, to 60 months in prison for making threats to kill his lawyer, his prosecutor, and members of the public. Judge Rice also imposed 3 years of supervised release. Lunney was convicted of this crime on December 10, 2024, following a jury trial.

According to court documents and information disclosed at trial and at the sentencing hearing, in July of 2022, while on Washington State community custody for a previous conviction involving threats to kill, Lunney texted his state Department of Corrections (DOC) community corrections officer, among other threatening statements, that “. . . in 19 days, mass violence becomes inevitable.” Lunney also discussed with his DOC officer his plan to commit a school shooting at an Asotin County School District School, and to commit a mass shooting at a parade at the Asotin County Fair.  Upon being contacted by DOC officers, on July 18, 2022, Lunney continued to make specific threats regarding his plans to commit a mass shooting and, upon being evaluated by a mental health professional, issued additional threats including his five-year-plan to “right injustice” by going to the Asotin County Fair Parade and live streaming his opening fire on a crowd.  Lunney also made repeated statements regarding his access to firearms at that time.

Later that same day, July 18, 2022, Lunney was arrested by the Clarkston Police Department for his threats to commit mass shootings and was taken into custody at the Asotin County Jail where he remained in custody on felony charges, brought by the Asotin County Prosecutor’s Office, for his threats.

Over a period of months while in the Asotin County Jail on the charges for the July threats, Lunney made a series of calls and emails and sent letters to family members and others, all of which he was told were being closely monitored at that time by law enforcement.  In these monitored in custody communications, Lunney repeatedly expressed his anger towards the criminal justice system in general and the assigned Asotin County deputy prosecutor as well as his own defense attorney.  Lunney also repeatedly discussed his plans to obtain an AR-15 and commit mass murder based upon his specific plans to “do pure evil to countless souls.”

On December 5th, 2022, while awaiting trial for the July threats, Lunney’s anger towards the local criminal justice system culminated in an email he sent from the Asotin County Jail  where he stated, “I want to have a murder-suicide with my lawyer when I leave here. . .” and “I want to kill my lawyer and the prosecutors when I get out. . .” referencing “attacking a crowd” and that stating that “I can’t even say what I have planned.”

“I want to thank the victims and witnesses who bravely came forward and testified, helping to hold Mr. Lunney accountable for his deeply disturbing threats,” said Acting United States Attorney Rich Barker. “Lunney not only threatened to carry out mass violence, including a school shooting he chillingly described as ‘Sandy Hook Part II,’ but also targeted the very individuals working to ensure justice—his own attorney and the prosecuting attorneys. I am grateful to the FBI for intervening before Mr. Lunney could carry out his violent plans, and to the Assistant United States Attorneys who prosecuted this case with outstanding professionalism, diligence, and resolve.”

“Mr. Lunney’s threats were alarming, disturbing, and terrifying in nature. They instilled fear not only in the targeted victims but an entire community,” said Special Agent in Charge Mehtab Syed of the Salt Lake City FBI. “The FBI takes all threats of violence seriously and will take necessary steps to ensure public safety.”

This case was investigated by the FBI. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Tyler H.L. Tornabene and former Assistant United States Attorney Dan Fruchter.

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