The man who fired a nail gun at an FBI building in Cincinnati on Thursday before being killed by officers was at the Capitol on Jan. 6, officials said.
Two officials familiar with the case identified the suspect as Ricky Walter Shiffer.
Officers fatally shot the suspect after failing to negotiate with him, Ohio State Police spokesman Lt. Nathan Dennis told reporters.
The man raised a gun and officers opened fire, Dennis said.
It was unclear whether he fired, Dennis said, or who fired the fatal shot. The man was pronounced dead at the scene, which Dennis described as a rural area off Interstate 71.
No officers were injured and a potential motive is still being investigated, Dennis said.
Earlier, two law enforcement sources told NBC News that a man armed with an AR-15 type rifle entered the FBI building and fired a nail gun at personnel before stalking. run away in a car.
“At approximately 9:15 a.m. EST, the FBI Cincinnati Field Office experienced an armed subject attempting to enter the Visitor Screening Facility (VSF),” FBI Cincinnati said in a statement. “Upon activation of an alarm and response from armed FBI special agents, subject fled north on Interstate 71.”
The Clinton County Emergency Management Agency alerted that Interstate 71 was closed in both directions in the dead end area at 1 p.m. The agency issued an update around 5 p.m. saying “law enforcement operations and response are complete.”
“Law enforcement exchanged fire with a male suspect who is wearing a gray shirt and body armor,” the agency said in an initial statement, warning those nearby to stay away. inside and lock their doors. Ohio State Highway Patrol said the suspect fired the shots from a Ford Crown Victoria as he was being chased by police.
Brian Murphy, a former Department of Homeland Security and FBI official who is now an executive at open-source intelligence firm Logical, told The Associate Press on Wednesday that his company has seen a sharp increase in threats against personnel and FBI facilities on social media. media platforms since the FBI raid of former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Largo home.
FBI Director Christopher Wray on Wednesday denounced Trump supporters who used violent rhetoric against law enforcement following the raid.
“I’m always concerned about threats against law enforcement,” Wray said. “Violence against law enforcement is not the answer, no matter who you’re mad at.”
This is breaking news. Please check for updates.
The Associated Press and Antonio Planas contributed.