Elijah Millar, a 19-year-old from Murfreesboro, Tennessee, has become the focus of national attention following his arrest at a protest in downtown Nashville. The event, known as the “No Kings” protest, attracted demonstrators from across the state. During the gathering, Millar was taken into custody after pulling out a handgun while confronting peaceful protesters. Although he did not aim the weapon at anyone, his behavior, attire, and past actions have raised serious public safety concerns.
Millar was dressed in all black and wore a face covering. He carried a yellow “Don’t Tread on Me” flag and openly displayed a handgun in a holster. Witnesses reported that Millar spat at demonstrators, yelled insults, and argued face-to-face with protesters. When one woman asked him to remove his mask and called him a coward, Millar responded by giving a Nazi-style salute and shouting offensive and hateful language. He also livestreamed his movements during the protest and claimed he was there to “counter-protest commies.”
This was not Millar’s first encounter with law enforcement. In 2023, his family reported him missing, describing him as autistic but highly functioning. That same year, he was arrested in Ohio for carrying a weapon while under disability. Despite this history, Millar showed up at the Nashville protest armed with a semi-automatic handgun.
Millar’s appearance and behavior drew attention not only because of the weapon but also due to symbols associated with extremist beliefs. His cap displayed a patch referencing the “Dark Enlightenment,” a political ideology that rejects democracy and supports authoritarian rule. Police noted this detail along with his other actions as possible signs of a broader extremist mindset.
Investigations into Millar’s social media activity have uncovered even more alarming content. Posts linked to his accounts show that he praised well-known mass murderers, including Anders Breivik, the Norwegian attacker who killed 77 people in 2011, and the Buffalo shooter who targeted African Americans in a 2022 supermarket attack. In one post, Millar referred to the victims of the Buffalo shooting as “race traitors” and called the shooter a “hero.” He even added an image showing an anime character standing in front of the store with a gun, captioned with the word “Indeed.”
Millar also showed admiration for the Christchurch mosque attacker who killed 51 Muslims in New Zealand in 2019. He appeared to mimic the style of the shooter by writing hateful slogans on a Mossberg shotgun. One of the messages, “This machine kills commies,” was written in white letters, resembling the markings found on the Christchurch attacker’s weapons.
Further posts show that Millar was preparing for future events. He expressed interest in buying a helmet and a GoPro camera to record his activities. In July, he posted a cryptic message stating, “No more running for me, reapers calling my name.” This message has raised questions about his intentions and mental state.
After his arrest in Nashville, Millar was released on bond. Law enforcement officials have confirmed that the FBI was already aware of his online activity prior to the incident, but it remains unclear whether additional charges will be filed. The case has sparked growing concern about how individuals with known extremist views and criminal backgrounds are still able to carry weapons and attend public gatherings.
Elijah Millar’s actions have highlighted broader issues related to online radicalization, public safety at protests, and the challenges law enforcement faces in tracking individuals who pose a threat. As more information about Millar comes to light, his case continues to fuel debate about gun access and the presence of extremist ideologies at political events in the United States.
