Man Allegedly Threatens To Shoot Up Polling Place, Then Mugs For The Camera

A Pennsylvania man flashed quite a smile after he was arrested for allegedly threatening to shoot up a polling place on Election Day.

Christopher Thomas Queen, 48, of Claysville, Pennsylvania, allegedly "became upset, told the poll workers he was going to go get a gun and come back and shoot them,” after being informed he wasn't registered to vote, Melanie Ostrander, Washington County’s assistant elections director, told the Associated Press.

Witnesses at the South Franklin Volunteer Fire Department, which was being used as the polling center, said Queen claimed he had been promised a gun and money if he voted "straight party," according to WPXI in Pittsburgh.

Things escalated quickly afterward and left volunteers visibly shaken, WPXI reported. 

Not only was he grinning during his mugshot, but video taken by a local outlet shows him smiling wildly and appearing to laugh during a perp walk.

He was charged with terroristic threats and disorderly conduct for the allegedly threats.

It’s not clear if Queen has a lawyer who can speak on his behalf at this time. In court, Queen said he doesn’t own a firearm, according to WPXI. 

“No comment,” Queen told a reporter who approached him outside of the courthouse. “This is going to go to trial.”

While the nation's midterm elections were often a heated affair over the last few months, things were largely peaceful on Election Day, with the exception of Queen's alleged threats and an incident in Texas. In that case, according to the Associated Press, a white poll worker was cited for misdemeanor assault after allegedly bumping a black voter during a dispute in which she also allegedly said, “Maybe if I’d worn my blackface makeup today you could comprehend what I’m saying to you.”

[Photo: Associated Press]