Bomb Threat Targeting Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene Leads to Fatal Chain of Events

On Friday, December 6, 2024, an email was sent to the Rome Police Department’s Assistant Chief Rodney Bailey, claiming a pipe bomb had been placed in Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene’s mailbox. The email, which accurately listed her home address, was diverted to the junk folder and only discovered on Monday, December 9, at approximately 9:30 AM.

Upon learning of the threat, Assistant Chief Bailey immediately contacted Congresswoman Greene’s staff, who confirmed she was not at the residence. An officer was dispatched to monitor the mailbox while awaiting the Rome/Floyd Bomb Squad’s response. At 11:06 AM, Assistant Chief Bailey alerted the Bomb Squad, which began mobilizing.

At 11:17 AM, a separate incident occurred when Rome Police Sergeant and Bomb Squad member David Metroka was involved in a car crash on Redmond Circle near Walmart while driving his personal vehicle to the Bomb Squad headquarters. According to the Georgia State Patrol, a 2002 Mazda Protege, driven by 66-year-old Tammie Pickelsimer, pulled into the path of Sergeant Metroka’s GMC truck. The collision caused significant injuries to Pickelsimer, who was transported to the hospital and later succumbed to her injuries. Sergeant Metroka sustained minor injuries and was released from the hospital.

The Rome Police Department expressed condolences to Pickelsimer’s family and emphasized that the chain of events was initiated by the email threat. The department continues to work with Congresswoman Greene’s office and federal authorities to identify and apprehend the perpetrator.

The Rome Police Department is addressing the ongoing issue of swatting and has implemented measures to ensure emergency responses are appropriately triggered. This incident did not require an emergency response.