Eighteen-year-old Rayden Coleman, a resident of St. Helens, Oregon, was taken into custody on February 4, 2026, following the discovery of a chilling plot targeting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.
A disturbing manifesto, attributed to a group calling itself the ‘Cascadia Rangers Coalition,’ detailed a horrifying intent: the beheading of ICE agents, with the severed heads intended as gruesome “trophies.” The document laid bare a radical ideology fueled by deep-seated anger.
Prosecutors allege Coleman envisioned a campaign of violence designed not only to eliminate ICE agents but also to ignite a larger conflict. The plan involved using the horrific acts as recruitment tools, specifically targeting individuals on the Warm Springs reservation to bolster a separatist movement, potentially escalating into civil war.
Coleman now faces a barrage of serious charges, including attempted assault and multiple counts related to the manufacture and possession of destructive devices. The weight of the accusations reflects the gravity of the alleged scheme and the potential for devastating consequences.
The unraveling of the plot began with concerned roommates and acquaintances who reported Coleman’s increasingly volatile statements and the contents of his manifesto. These reports revealed a growing rage stemming from ICE actions during a previous administration’s heightened immigration enforcement policies.
His actions escalated beyond rhetoric. Coleman allegedly purchased an assault rifle and began constructing Molotov cocktails, transforming his anger into tangible preparations for violence. The evidence suggested a deliberate and methodical descent into extremism.
The arrest itself was a high-risk operation, unfolding in the parking lot of an assisted living facility where Coleman was employed. A search of his vehicle yielded a disturbing cache: materials for Molotov cocktails, weapons, surveillance equipment, and proof of payment for an AR-style rifle.
Coleman has entered a plea of not guilty, setting the stage for a legal battle that will delve into the depths of his motivations and the extent of his planned actions. The case promises to be a complex examination of radicalization and the threat of domestic extremism.
According to prosecutors, the manifesto’s origins lie in the aftermath of federal actions elsewhere, sparking a desire to establish an independent state of “Cascadia.” This separatist ambition served as the ideological foundation for the violent plot against ICE.
Coleman actively sought to build an arsenal and recruit others to his cause. However, his efforts were undermined by the very individuals he attempted to enlist, two of whom, deeply disturbed by his rhetoric, contacted law enforcement.
One individual described Coleman as being “not himself,” characterizing his separatist group as merely a stepping stone towards a broader, more destructive civil war. This testimony paints a picture of a young man consumed by extremist ideology and intent on unleashing chaos.
The alleged plan was brutally specific: Coleman intended to kill ICE agents, decapitate them, and present the severed heads as proof of his commitment to potential recruits on the Warm Springs reservation. This chilling detail underscores the extreme nature of his alleged intentions.
Currently, Coleman is being held on $400,000 bail, awaiting further legal proceedings. The case has sent shockwaves through the community and raised serious questions about the growing threat of domestic extremism and the potential for violence.
