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Surveillance video captured a terrifying and apparent late-night random act of violence in Ohio, when a knife-wielding man allegedly told a homeowner he intended to kill him “in the name of Allah.”
The harrowing encounter, which unfolded in the early hours of Easter Sunday morning in Warren County, began when the suspect appeared to be praying in the family’s driveway before approaching the home multiple times, prompting an alarmed father to eventually go outside.
Authorities later identified the suspect as 23-year-old Anthony Long, who was arrested and charged shortly after the incident, FOX 19 Now reported.
Tiffany Miller, the mother of the family, shared the frightening ordeal on social media Monday, describing it as a “deeply frightening and dangerous situation” that could have turned deadly.
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A suspicious man approached a house in Ohio after midnight on Sunday. (Tiffany Miller)
The incident began when the suspect reportedly drove into the family’s driveway with his headlights off, Miller said.
Surveillance footage from the home then appeared to show the man kneeling in the driveway and praying before approaching the home.
Long first knocked on the front door, but received no response as the family was asleep, Miller said.
Minutes later, he returned, pounding on the door even louder in a second, more aggressive attempt.
Miller said the family woke up expecting their daughter to return home, but were shocked to find a stranger at their door in the middle of the night.
A male suspect was seen praying on his knees before approaching the Ohio home on Sunday. (Tiffany Miller)
“I woke up and walked up thinking my daughter was locked out and, nope, it wasn’t her,” she said. “It was a man I didn’t know. We did not respond, and again he went back to his car.”
The man reportedly remained in his parked car as one of the family’s daughters finally arrived home, prompting Miller’s husband to go outside and confront the suspect.
“Hey bud, you knocking on the door?” the father, Andy, was heard asking.
“I’ll kill you in the name of Allah,” the suspect immediately replied.
The alarmed father then began retreating while shouting for their daughter to drive away.
Miller said the suspect then pulled a knife on Andy, attempted to approach the home again, and ultimately drove off in pursuit of the daughter, who had already fled the scene.
The homeowner retreated from a suspicious man early Sunday morning following an alarming encounter. (Tiffany Miller)
“The man immediately exited his vehicle, began making explicit threats to kill him, repeatedly invoking religious language, and started moving closer in an aggressive manner,” Miller said.
No one was injured in the incident, according to the family.
“This was a terrifying encounter, and we are grateful no one was harmed last night,” Miller said.
Anthony Long was taken into custody around 3:18 a.m. Sunday. (Warren County Sheriff’s Office)
Long was booked into the Warren County Jail, according to the Warren County Sheriff’s Office.
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Long faces four charges, including aggravated menacing, trespassing, and criminal damage, all classified as misdemeanors of varying degrees.
He is also facing multiple bail amounts totaling more than $75,000, most of which must be paid in cash.