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| Photo Credit: AP. |
A gunman who attempted to break into an FBI building in Cincinnati, Ohio on Thursday was killed after a tense standoff with law enforcement.
The armed man who wore body armor fled the scene, fired at some police officers and engaged the police in an hourlong standoff in a rural part of the state, The Associated Press quoted the Ohio State Highway Patrol as saying.
Gunman who tried to break into FBI building attended Trump's January 6 rally
The suspect
is believed to have attended Trump’s “Stop The Steal” rally and also
participated in the January 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol, The Associated Press
quoted a law enforcement official briefed on the matter.
The official
said the suspect was identified as Ricky Shiffer, 42 but was not charged with any
crimes related to the January 6 attack. The official said federal investigators
are examining whether Shiffer may have had possible ties with far-right
extremist groups such as the Proud Boys, according to The Associated Press.
The Associated
Press reported that Shiffer “attempted to breach” the visitor’s screening area
at the FBI office at around 9:15 a.m. but fled when agents confronted him,
according to federal authorities’ account of the incident.'
Gunman fired at officers after fleeing FBI building
Lt. Nathan
Dennis, an Ohio State Highway Patrol spokesperson said the suspect who fled
onto interstate 71 was spotted by a trooper but fired shots as the trooper
pursued him, The Associated Press reported.
Shiffer left
the interstate north of Cincinnati as police pursued him. He later got out of
his car on a rural road and exchanged gunfire with police and sustained
injuries, Dennis said. No officer was hurt in the shootout. Another highway
patrol statement said Shiffer had used his car for cover during the deadly
standoff.
Shiffer the gunman who breached FBI bureau office was shot after he raised a gun toward police
Dennis said
Shiffer was shot after he raised a gun toward police at around 3:45 p.m.
Thursday. Without providing details, Dennis said after negotiations failed and
use police tried unsuccessfully to use “less lethal tactics,” officers had no other
choice but to use deadly force to end the encounter, according to The
Associated Press.
State
highway workers blocked off roads leading to the scene just as helicopter flew
over the area, according to The Associated Press. Officials also locked down a
mile radius near the interstate, urging workers and business owners to lock
doors and stay indoors.
Is the FBI attack linked to bureau's raid on Trump's home?
The incident
may not be unconnected with a raid by the FBI in a bid to carry out a search
warrant on the Florida Mar-a-Lago home of former President Donald Trump on
Monday.
FBI agents
entered the Mar-a-Lago estate as part of an investigation into whether Mr.
Trump took classified documents to his Florida residence, The Associated Press
quoted people familiar with the matter.
A
months-long probe has sought to establish how classified documents ended up in
boxes of White House records located at Mar-a-Lago earlier this year.
Trump supporters protest FBI raid at Mar-a-Lago
About two
dozen Trump supporters stood in protest at midmorning Tuesday in a bridge near
Trump’s residence following the raid.
One held a
sign reading “Democrats are Fascists” while others carried flags saying “2020
Was Rigged,” “Trump 2024″ and Biden’s name with an obscenity, according to The
Associated Press.
Why are white supremacists and anti-Semites targeting the FBI?
FBI agents
and offices have become targets of threats following the FBI raid at Trump’s
home. Users on Gab, a social media site popular with white supremacists and anti-Semites
warned they are preparing for an armed revolution, according to The Associated
Press.
FBI Director
Christopher Wray denounced the threats as "deplorable and dangerous."
The FBI
warned its agents Wednesday to avoid potential protesters, and to ensure their
security key cards are “not visible outside FBI space,” citing an increase in
social media threats to bureau personnel and facilities, The Associated Press
reported.