Wilmington: An armed man suspected of trying to breach the FBI’s Cincinnati field office in the USA was killed by police in a rural area of the state after an hour-long encounter, said the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
The suspect has been identified as Ricky Schiffer, 42, according to an official. He was armed with a nail gun and an AR-15 rifle, officials said.
The incident comes as authorities warn of an increase in threats against federal agents following a raid on former US President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.
According to the authorities, the suspect tried to breach the visitor screening facility in the FBI field office at about 9:15 a.m. ET.
“He was not charged with any crime in connection with the January 6 attack on the Parliament complex,” an officer said. According to the official, federal investigators have linked Schiffer’s Pride Boys with other far-right extremist groups. The relationship is being investigated. According to witnesses to the incident, Schiffer attempted to “damage” the investigation area at the FBI office around 9:15 a.m. and fled when officers arrived.
After fleeing on Interstate 71, he was cordoned and shot by a trooper, Ohio State Highway Patrol spokesman Lt. Nathan Dennis said at a press conference.
Dennis said Schiffer abandoned his car on an interstate on a rural road north of Cincinnati and was injured after engaging in a standoff with police. However, no one else has been injured in this incident. Schiffer pointed his gun at police around 3 p.m. Thursday and was shot, Dennis said.