Man Accused of Attempting to Break Into FBI Office Killed in Standoff

Facts

• An armed man suspected of trying to breach the FBI's Cincinnati, Ohio field office on Thurs. was killed after an hours-long standoff with law enforcement.
• The suspect, Ricky W. Shiffer, 42, of Columbus, Ohio, was believed to be armed with an AR-15 rifle and a nail gun and was wearing body armor. After allegedly attempting to enter the FBI office, he fled and his vehicle was followed by state police - ending with law enforcement shooting and killing the suspect.
• Ohio State Highway Patrol said that after negotiations failed, Shiffer raised his gun and officers opened fire. Shiffer was pronounced dead at the scene and no officers were injured.
• The suspected gunman allegedly posted content on Trump's social media platform, Truth Social, including Pro-Trump conspiracies and a desire to kill federal law enforcement. His rhetoric reportedly escalated following the FBI search of the former president's Mar-a-Lago residence.
• Shiffer is believed to have been in Washington, DC in the days leading up to the Jan. 6 Capitol riot and he may have been present at the Capitol on the day, though he was never charged with any related crimes. Federal investigators are examining whether Shiffer had any ties to far-right extremist groups.
• The incident occurred several hours after FBI director, Christopher Wray, called recent threats circulating online against federal agents and the Justice Department "deplorable and dangerous."

Sources: USA Today, CNN, NBC, abc, and NPR Online News.

Narratives

• Left narrative, as provided by New York Times. This incident shows just how dangerous the recent violent rhetoric and unfounded attacks against the FBI by Republican lawmakers and Trump supporters can be. Schiffer even announced online beforehand that he was going to target the agency as retribution for the recent raid on Mar-a-Lago. Violence and threats against law enforcement are dangerous and should concern all Americans.
• Right narrative, as provided by PJ Media. While attacks like this should rightly be condemned, it's disingenuous to pretend all political violence comes from the GOP. From the violence seen during the 2020 BLM protests to the most recent threatening responses to the overturning of Roe v. Wade - including an assassination attempt on SCOTUS Justice Kavanaugh - the left harbors its fair share of violent extremists as well, often spurred on by those at the very top of the Democrat party.