White Supremacist Running for CA Office Shot Dead in Home

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (AP/THE BLAZE) -- A California white supremacist who drew widespread attention when he ran for a regional water board seat was shot to death in his home, and his young son has been booked for investigation of murder, a police spokesman said Monday.

Jeff Russell Hall, 32, was killed early Sunday in the house he shared with his wife and five children, all of whom were home at the time. Hall died of a single gunshot wound fired "by a known assailant," according to a Riverside County coroner's office news release.

The weapon was described only as a handgun and police Lt. Ed Blevins refused to divulge the caliber of the weapon or the identity of the gun owner. Blevins said he was awaiting autopsy results.

The Riverside Press-Enterprise reported that police were called at 4:04 a.m. Sunday to the Hall home, which overlooks the University of California, Riverside.

Hall's son was booked at juvenile hall for investigation of murder, Blevins said. He would only say the child was under 18 years old. A neighbor told the Press-Enterprise that Hall's children are 12 years old and younger.

Blevins said the motive for the shooting hasn't been determined, saying only "it was an intentional act. He wouldn't release any details about the shooting.

Hall was the regional leader of the National Socialist Movement, which promotes white separatism on its website. He lost his November bid to replace incumbent Tom Evans on the Western Riverside Municipal Water District board.

The Daily Mail reports:

Mr Hall was a plumber and rising star in the neo-Nazi group based in Detroit, who ran for office at his local water board last November.

Neighbours said he flew a swastika from his home at a Halloween party last year and attendees wore Ku Klux Klan costumes.

A New York Times reporter attended a meeting of the local group at his home the night before he was killed, where Mr Hall called on members to join him for militia-style raids for illegal immigrants along the Mexico-Arizona border.

He said: 'This is a very active area right now. You guys get your Glocks cocked and get ready to rock. We’re going to the border. That’s how we do it.'

Detroit-based National Socialist Movement spokesman Charles Wilson said the group didn't have any comment.

A neighbor told the Press-Enterprise that Hall's presence in the neighborhood was intimidating.

Juan Trejo described a Halloween party last year when Hall flew a swastika flag from the house and guests wore KKK hoods.

"Honestly, I feel like it's over," said Trejo, who lives across the street from Hall's home. "It was scary here. Hopefully we'll never see any of them again."