After he tried to enter the FBI compound, authorities say he fled and his vehicle was followed by state police. When the vehicle pursuit ended, there was a lengthy standoff that ended when the suspect was shot and killed by law enforcement, according to authorities. The FBI said in a statement that it is investigating the circumstances that led to the shooting of the suspect. Although authorities have not released a motive, the FBI is investigating the man’s social media presence and whether he had ties to far-right extremism, one of the sources told CNN. Here’s what we know about the attempted breach and the suspect.
What happened when the suspect tried to enter the office?
At approximately 9:15 A.M. ET, an armed man attempted to breach the visitor screening facility at the FBI field office, the agency said in a statement. “After the alarm was activated and armed FBI special agents responded, the subject fled northbound on Interstate 71,” FBI Cincinnati said in a statement. Ohio Highway Patrol troopers responded and found the suspect at an interstate rest stop in a Ford Crown Victoria around 9:37 a.m. Troopers attempted a traffic stop on the suspect, but he fled and a vehicle pursuit ensued, Ohio State Highway Patrol spokesman Lt. Nathan Dennis said at a news conference. He said during the chase shots were fired from the suspect’s car. The suspect exited the freeway onto state Route 73 and stopped around 9:53 a.m. on a road in Clinton County, the highway patrol said.
How did the confrontation develop?
After stopping, the man got out and “engaged officers,” the highway patrol said. Gunfire was exchanged between law enforcement and the suspect, who used his vehicle for cover, they said. The suspect was wearing body armor, according to a Facebook post from the Clinton County Emergency Management Agency. A lockdown was in effect within a 1-mile radius of the stall location, the post said. The standoff lasted several hours as law enforcement tried unsuccessfully to negotiate with the suspect, the highway patrol said. “Once negotiations failed, officers attempted to apprehend the suspect using less lethal tactics,” the agency said. “Around 3:42 p.m., the suspect raised a firearm and was shot by law enforcement officers.” The suspect was shot and died of his injuries at the scene, the agency said. It is unclear what less-lethal tactic authorities used in their attempt to apprehend him.
What do we know about the suspect?
The FBI is investigating Schiffer’s social media presence and whether he had ties to far-right extremism, a federal law enforcement source told CNN. Authorities are also looking into whether he was involved in the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol or linked to groups involved in the attack, a separate federal law enforcement source told CNN. A social media account bearing the name of Ricky Shiffer has been posted on the social media platform founded by former President Donald Trump, Truth Social, that appears to be in reference to his attempt to break into an FBI office. The post about the FBI office attack came minutes after the Ohio State Patrol said the incident at the office in Cincinnati began shortly after 9:15 a.m. “Well, I thought I had a way through the bulletproof glass, and I didn’t,” the user posted at 9:29 am. of Thursday. “If you haven’t heard from me, it’s true that I tried to attack the FBI and that will either mean I got kicked off the internet, the FBI got me, or the regular cops were sent in. It is not clear if the user was trying to write more, as the post stops after, “while”. Authorities have not yet confirmed that the account belongs to the suspect. However, a law enforcement source confirmed to CNN that a photo on the account matched a government ID photo of the suspect. The FBI declined to comment on the account and its posts, citing the ongoing investigation. On the account, which has only been active for the last few weeks, the user posted thoughts that were politically violent and rebellious in spirit. But it wasn’t until the FBI executed a search warrant at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home that the user began to allege he was responding with violence to the agency. “Guys, this is it,” the user wrote on Aug. 8, the day the FBI executed the warrant. “I hope a call to arms comes from someone better qualified, but if not, this is a call to arms from me. In that post, the user encouraged people to go to gun shops and pawn shops to “get what you need to be battle ready.” When another person replied to the user saying they would send their photo and information to the FBI, the user responded by saying, “Bring them on.” It is unclear whether the information was actually passed on to the FBI. On August 9, the user wrote that people were going to gather in Palm Beach and said that if the FBI broke up the group, “kill them.” The user of the account also claimed they were present in Washington, DC on January 6, but did not say if they entered the Capitol.
How did the FBI react?
FBI headquarters is investigating the “agent-in-charge shooting,” the agency said in a statement. A law enforcement source told CNN that the agency has deployed a shooting incident review team to the scene, which is standard practice when an FBI special agent or task force officer fires a weapon. The review team will gather evidence, interview witnesses and ultimately determine whether the use of deadly force was justified, the source said. “The FBI takes seriously all shootings involving agents or members of our task force,” the bureau said in a statement. “The review process is thorough and objective and is conducted as expeditiously as possible under the circumstances.” FBI Director Christopher Wray issued a statement Thursday night condemning the attacks on law enforcement and the FBI. “The baseless attacks on the integrity of the FBI erode respect for the rule of law and do a serious disservice to the men and women who sacrifice so much to protect others. Violence and threats against law enforcement, including the FBI, are dangerous and should be of deep concern to all Americans,” said Wray. CNN’s Paul P. Murphy, Evan Perez, Michelle Watson, Caroll Alvarado, Chuck Johnston and Dakin Andone contributed to this report.
