Nicholas Roske, Man Arrested in Brett Kavanaugh Threat, A ‘Good Kid’: Grandfather

The grandfather of a man charged with attempted murder of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh defended his grandson Wednesday.

Dan Shannon informed the CBS network’s Los Angeles affiliate that the allegations against his 26-year-old grandson, Nicholas Roske, are extremely uncharacteristic.

Shannon declared, “He’s a good kid,” and neighbors seemed to agree.

“They were always nice people,” neighbor Zach Quadri described the family, “so it’s a surprise more than anything.”

Another neighbor reportedly added: “I think that it’s a scary time we live in and people really need to look out for one another and mental health is a big issue going on in the world.”

“They’re great neighbors,” neighbor Michael Holbrook said about the suspect’s family. “I’m very dumbfounded.”

Holbrook told the VC Star the family kept to themselves and had never caused problems. The Star is a Gannet publication covering Ventura County, California.

Besides a minor traffic infraction in 2015, Simi Valley Police Department Cmdr. Ritchie Lew said Roske had no prior run-ins with cops in his hometown.

Nicholas Roske was last employed as an office manager for Valley Guard Pest Control in Simi Valley, according to his LinkedIn profile. Attempts by a reporter to reach the owners of the company for comment were not successful.

He allegedly traveled to the Montgomery County, Maryland, home of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh to kill both the justice and himself. According to the criminal complaint submitted to Maryland’s District Court, the 26-year-old exited a cab in front of the justice’s home dressed in black, carrying a suitcase and a backpack. He apparently scrubbed his mission when he noticed a law enforcement presence at the residence.

“The individual looked at the two deputy U.S. Marshals, who were standing next to their parked vehicle, and then turned to walk down the street,” according to documents filed with Maryland District Court. Roske did not walk far before calling 911. He identified himself, then informed the dispatcher he had a weapon and was having suicidal thoughts.

Dispatchers alerted local police who arrested him and found a Glock 17 semi-automatic pistol with two loaded magazines and other gear in his carry-ons.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy Sullivan Thursday signed the criminal complaint against Roske that charged him with violating 18 U.S.C., Section 115(a)(1)(A).

The charge is described as “Attempts to kidnap or murder, or threatens to assault, kidnap or murder a United States Judge, to wit: a current Justice of the United States Supreme Court.”