Three men allegedly discussed shooting Barack Obama , then the 2008 Democratic Party presidential nominee , during his acceptance speech on the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver , Colorado . Cousins Tharin Gartrell and Shawn Adolf , and their friend Nathan Johnson , allegedly came to Denver specifically to kill Obama , and discussed in their hotel room how they could assassinate him . On August 24 , 2008 , Gartrell was arrested when police found his truck filled with weapons and narcotics . Johnson and Adolf were arrested shortly thereafter and , during a televised interview , Johnson later indicated Adolf was the one who planned the alleged threat . Authorities later downplayed the threats and indicated the trio had little chance of successfully killing Obama . The three men were charged with drug and weapons charges and sentenced , but did not face federal charges of threatening a presidential candidate
2008 Democratic National Convention
2008 Democratic National Convention
Assassination threats against Barack Obama