Climber Sentenced to 30 Years for Plotting Mass Shooting
Samson Garner has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for his planned attack on climbers at an event at Smith Rock
In October 2023, the climbing community around Smith Rock State Park, and the annual Craggin’ Classic event, was shaken when Samson Garner, a Portland-area climber, mountain biker, and skier, became the subject of a law-enforcement investigation after disturbing messages and weapons were found in his possession. In an email to an ex-girlfriend, he had described graphic visions of violence at the event, which typically draws hundreds of climbers and spectators.
Garner was arrested on Oct. 19, 2023, at a trail head near Smith Rock. Deputies found an AR-15 rifle, two handguns, body armor and large quantities of ammunition in his vehicle. Prosecutors later said his email had explicitly named the Craggin’ Classic and referenced “belayers,” “spectators,” and climbers, language they argued suggested he was contemplating an attack on the festival. Court filings also described his deteriorating mental health, recent divorce, social isolation, and heavy drinking in the months leading up to the arrest.
The Craggin’ Classic has long been a cherished annual gathering at Smith Rock, bringing climbers from across the region together to celebrate the sport, the community and the Stoner Creek Canyon landscape. News of Garner’s alleged plot cast a long shadow over the event, forcing organizers and park officials to increase security and address widespread anxiety within the community.
A trial that began in August concluded in September, when a jury found Garner guilty on all 26 felony counts, including multiple counts of attempted murder, assault, and unlawful use of a weapon. According to reports, he was sentenced to 30 years in prison.
