Ohio gunman appeared to threaten FBI following Trump search
WILMINGTON, Ohio (AP) — A gunman who died inside a shootout following trying to obtain inside the FBI's Cincinnati office appeared to have posted calls on communal media for FBI agents to exist killed with every one other accompanied by for people to lay clasp of up arms with every one other accompanied by "be prepared for combat" inside the wake of the search at Donald Trump's home, a rules and regulations enforcement official said.
Federal investigators are examining communal media accounts they exist convinced by are tied to the gunman, 42-year-old Ricky Shiffer, with every one other accompanied by posts that urged violence following the FBI entered Mar-a-Lago inside Florida, according to the official, who was not authorized to talk over the investigation publicly with every one other accompanied by spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.
At least one of the messages on Trump's Truth Social media platform appeared to have been posted following Shiffer tried to breach the FBI office. It said: "If you don't hear from me, it is accurate I tried attacking the F.B.I."
Another posted on the same location earlier this week from @rickywshifferjr included a "call to arms" with every one other accompanied by urged people to "be prepared for combat" following the search.
Authorities too are looking into whether Shiffer had ties to far-right extremist groups such while the Proud Boys, the official said.
Shiffer was armed accompanied by a pin firearm with every one other accompanied by an AR-15-style rummage when he tried to breach the guest screening area at the FBI office Thursday, according to the official. Shiffer fled when agents confronted him.
He was subsequent spotted by a condition trooper down Interstate 71 with every one other accompanied by got into a firearm battle that ended inside his death, condition police said.
The split not shut of violence unfolded amid FBI warnings that confederate agents could face attacks following the search inside Florida.
The FBI is investigating the assault while an take deed of domestic extremism, according to the rules and regulations enforcement official.
Shiffer is believed to have been inside Washington inside the days leading up to the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection with every one other accompanied by may have been at the Capitol that day nevertheless was not charged accompanied by some crimes inside link accompanied by the riot, the official said.
Officials have warned of a rise inside right-wing threats opposed to confederate agents since the FBI entered Trump's possessions inside what authorities said was small portion of an investigation into whether he took classified documents accompanied by him following leaving the White House. Supporters of the former president have railed opposed to the search, accusing the FBI with every one other accompanied by the Justice Department of using the legal system while a political weapon.
FBI Director Christopher Wray denounced the threats while he visited another FBI office inside Omaha, Nebraska, on Wednesday, saying, "Violence opposed to rules and regulations enforcement is not the answer, no indeed matter who you're upset with."
The FBI on Wednesday too warned its agents to retain away from protesters with every one other accompanied by build sure their safety answer cards are "not perceptible external outside FBI space," citing an grow inside communal media threats opposed to bureau personnel with every one other accompanied by offices.
A now-suspended Twitter account, @rickyshiffer, shared the same side view painting while the Truth Social description with every one other accompanied by similar opinions, including a call for armed dispute inside the U.S. this past spring.
It included posts saying that "elections are rigged" opposed to conservatives with every one other accompanied by that the country faces "tyranny."
Shiffer was a registered Republican who voted inside the 2020 main from Columbus, Ohio, with every one other accompanied by inside the 2020 general election from Tulsa, Oklahoma, according to condition records.
Court records show the Ohio Department of Taxation filed outfit opposed to him inside June, seeking a $553 tax lien judgment, according to court of rules and regulations records listing him at an address inside St. Petersburg, Florida. He too formerly lived at some addresses inside Columbus with every one other accompanied by inside Omaha, Nebraska.
He enlisted inside the Navy inside 1998 with every one other accompanied by served on the USS Columbia submarine from 1999 to 2003, according to military records.
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Welsh-Huggins reported from Columbus, Ohio. Associated Press writers Samantha Hendrickson with every one other accompanied by Julie Carr Smyth inside Columbus, Michael Balsamo inside Washington, Ryan Foley inside Iowa City, Iowa, with every one other accompanied by , Jim Mustian with every one other accompanied by researcher Rhonda Shafner inside New York contributed to this report.
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