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January 6th Rioter Attacks FBI Building
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An armed man, Ricky Shiffer, tried to breach an FBI office in Cincinnati before law enforcement shot and killed him.
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Shiffer was at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021 and has consistently engaged with violent rhetoric from far-right politicians.
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Shiffer’s attack seems to be a result of the anti-FBI sentiment trending in the wake of it executing a lawful search warrant at former President Trump’s Florida estate.
An armed man in body armor tried to breach an FBI office in Cincinnati, Ohio on Thursday, August 11, 2022. That man, Ricky Shiffer, 46, was shot and killed by police after a standoff.
This incident joins a growing number of threats against the FBI after it executed a lawfully issued search warrant at former President Donald Trump’s Florida estate.
Despite the fact that the Trump-appointed FBI director approved the search, people have speculated wildly on social media. The resulting attacks on the FBI have ignored that it operates independently of the White House and that President Biden had no knowledge of the search prior to it being executed.
Scene on country road where suspect Ricky Shiffer was killed following a shootout with police.
Shiffer Was At Capitol on January 6th
Law enforcement said Shiffer was at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021 but was not charged. Whether he broke into the Capitol building or not is unknown at this time.
Investigators are still figuring out if Shiffer had any connections to far-right extremist groups.
Shiffer and the Far-Right
Shiffer reportedly posted threatening messages on social media. Possible threats by him include a directive to “save ammunition” and references the American revolution. Investigators are examining Facebook and Twitter posts to determine if that is the same Ricky Shiffer.
Evidently, Shiffer was active on Trump’s Truth Social site, threatening the FBI days before he attacked the Cincinnati office. “If you don't hear from me, it is true I tried attacking the F.B.I.,” an account under Shiffer’s name posted on Truth Social after he failed to breach the FBI building and fled the scene.
In other posts by the same account, Shiffer repeatedly offers a call to arms: “get whatever you need to be ready for combat. We must not tolerate this one.” He also exhorted other members to “Kill the F.B.I on sight.”
That’s not the only thing Shiffer did leading up to his attack. Shiffer also engaged with tweets by Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, advocating for political violence.
Attack Came After Elected Officials Denounced Law Enforcement
Based on other posts on the Shiffer Truth Social account, it appears he was incited in part by the FBI conducting a legal search of former President Donald Trump’s Florida home on August 8. The search warrant was approved by Trump-appointed FBI Director Christopher Wray and signed by a magistrate judge in connection with an investigation into the removal of classified documents. In response, many prominent conservatives, including Marjorie Taylor Greene, called for defunding the FBI and compared U.S. law enforcement with the intimidation tactics used by dictators and tyrants in third world countries. Rep. Paul Gosar tweeted, “We must destroy the FBI.”
About the Attack
After attacking the FBI office in Cincinnati, Shiffer reportedly fled. Officers followed him and he fired on them. That’s when police shot Shiffer.
“Violence against law enforcement is not the answer, no matter who you’re upset with,” said FBI Director Wray.