Neo-Nazi Militia Leader Kills 4 in Phoenix

The white supremacist founder of an Arizona border militia is believed to shot and killed three adults and a toddler before committing suicide. The body of JT Ready, head of the US Border Guard group, was found at a home in suburban Phoenix along with those of his girlfriend, her 22-year daughter, the daughter's boyfriend, and the younger couple's 18-month-old daughter, the Arizona Republic reports. Police believe the shooting was related to domestic violence, although the investigation has been delayed while federal agents check the home for munitions and test an unknown liquid found in drums in the home's backyard.

Ready, who was kicked out of the Marines after being court-martialed twice, led a group that patrolled the Arizona desert for drug traffickers and illegal immigrants. Earlier this year, he formed an exploratory committee to run for sheriff of Pinal County. Arizona Sen. Russell Pearce, sponsor of the state's controversial anti-illegal immigrant law, once hailed Ready as a "true patriot" and helped baptize him in the Mormon church, but the senator cut his ties to the militia leader after the media exposed his neo-Nazi associations, Salon finds. (More Arizona stories.)