Feds indict man in LDS temple shooting plot

A federal grand jury has indicted a man suspected of plotting a shooting rampage at an LDS temple in South Jordan.

Benjamin Speakman, 27, was indicted Thursday on a single count of possession of an unregistered sawed-off shotgun. In the indictment, federal prosecutors sought to seize all of Speakman's guns and ammunition.

Police said in charging documents that Speakman showed up at Valley Mental Health's facility in Midvale on Feb. 2, telling workers there he had a pistol and a shotgun and was "planning to kill himself and others." Agents with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said that in addition to the guns found in his car, authorities also recovered an AK-47, ammunition and knives from Speakman's home.

Under questioning, Speakman said he was having suicidal thoughts and had planned on killing his wife and mother-in-law at their home, the ATF said in an affidavit.

"He was then going to go to the Jordan (River) Temple and fight his way into the temple to the celestial room where he planned to kill himself with the shotgun," ATF agent Gregory Hopkins wrote. "Benjamin Speakman was asked if he was planning on shooting anyone at the temple, and he said yes."

Federal authorities have said they felt the threat was serious enough to seek a criminal charge to hold him in federal custody. Speakman was originally placed under a medical watch at a local hospital and defense attorneys have raised questions about his mental health.

Speakman is scheduled to appear in U.S. District Court to answer to the indictment on Friday.

E-MAIL: bwinslow@desnews.com