Ohio standoff - live: Man shot in FBI standoff may have left final message on Trump’s social platform

Law enforcement officers in Ohio shot and killed Ricky Shiffer, 42, after the armed man threatened an FBI field office in Cincinnati on Thursday morning then fled.

After a daylong standoff in a cornfield in Wilmington, Ohio, officers fatally shot Shiffer, who they say resisted negotiations and pointed a gun towards police.

Earlier that morning, officals say Shiffer fired a nail gun and brandished an AR-15-style rifle at FBI agents then fled in his car.

Highway troopers chased the man after finding him at a rest stop, before he eventually abandoned his car and fled into a cornfield, exchanging gunfire with police.

Officers surrounded the field and surveilled it with helicopters and drones for hours.

Police are investigating whether the man had any ties to the January 6 riots at the US Capitol.

Social media accounts appearing to belong to Shiffer indicate he may have been present during the insurrection.

The incident comes as numerous prominent conservatives have trained their ire at the FBI, after the agency carried out a search at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club in Florida as part of an investigation into the mishandling of White House documents.

Key points

• Armed man who threatened FBI office in Ohio shot by police

• Standoff with man who threatened FBI has ‘ended’: officials

• Dramatic shoot-out after armed man threatened FBI office in Ohio and led police on car chase

• Will Merrick Garland address Ohio FBI standoff?

• Traffic on I-71 back open as suspect ‘contained’ in cornfield: officials

FBI search at Mar-a-Lago may have triggered Ohio shooter - report

07:53 , Arpan Rai

The Ohio shooting suspect had increased his social media activity in response to the FBI’s search at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago, even calling for “war” after the investigative agency’s search at the former president’s Florida residence-turned-club earlier this week.

“People, this is it. I hope a call to arms comes from someone better qualified, but if not, this is your call to arms from me,” the user named rickywshifferjr wrote on Truth Social on Monday, after the search warrant at Mar-a-Lago was reported.

He called on people to leave work tomorrow, grab “whatever you need to be ready for combat” from army stores, gun shops, pawn shops “as soon as” they open and added that this time we must respond with force.

Ohio shooter posted on Trump’s Truth Social during attack: ‘Thought I had a way through bullet proof glass…’

06:49 , Arpan Rai

A suspected social media account of the Ohio shooter Ricky Shiffer has shown that the man had made a reference to storming an FBI office and also while the attack was underway on Thursday.

“Well, I thought I had a way through bullet proof glass, and I didn’t,” the user posted on Donald Trump’s social media platform Truth Social at 9.29am.

This came minutes after the attack took place at 9.15am, as per the details from the authorities. Shiffer added: “If you don’t hear from me, it is true I tried attacking the FBI, and it’ll mean either I was taken off the internet, the FBI got me, or they sent the regular cops while.”

It is not immediately clear if Shiffer posted these messages on social media and was trying to write more as the update stopped at “while”.

The suspect fled in a car after attempting to break into the FBI office.

It is also not confirmed that the account was being operated by the suspect.

FBI director calls attack on Ohio agents ‘deeply concerning'

06:01 , Graeme Massie

ICYMI: FBI Director Christopher Wray called Thursday’s attack on an Ohio FBI office “deeply concerning.”

“Violence and threats against law enforcement, including the FBI, are dangerous and should be deeply concerning to all Americans,” Mr Wray wrote in a statement to NBC News. “Every day I see the men and women of the FBI doing their jobs professionally and with rigor, objectivity, and a fierce commitment to our mission of protecting the American people and upholding the Constitution.”

Ricky Shiffer being labeled ‘suspected domestic violent extremist’ - report

05:52 , Arpan Rai

Authorities have said the Ohio shooting suspect Ricky Shiffer is being labeled as a “suspected domestic violent extremist”, according to a tweet by ABC’s chief investigative reporter Josh Margolin on Friday.

The report cited law enforcements officials who have been briefed on the probe.

Shiffer, who was shot dead by the FBI, allegedly threatened the investigative agency’s office in Cincinnati on Thursday around 9am, firing a nail gun at staff and brandishing an AR-15-style rifle, before driving away.

Police identify man who threatened Ohio FBI office

05:11 , Graeme Massie

ICYMI: Officials have identified Ricky Shiffer, 42, as the armed man who threatened the Cincinnati field office of the FBI.

Officers shot and killed Shiffer after a prolonged standoff in a cornfield near Wilmington, Ohio.

Police reportedly tried to negotiate with the individual and use non-lethal tactics to arrest him, before the 42-year-old raised a gun at officers and was killed, the Ohio State Patrol said.

Ricky Shiffer: Everything we know about Ohio gunman who attacked FBI

04:58 , Arpan Rai

Ohio native Ricky Shiffer was shot and killed by the law enforcement officers on Thursday afternoon after he launched an attack on an FBI field office in Cincinnati.

The 42-year-old suspect was armed with a nail gun and an assualt rifle.

Resident of Columbus, Shiffer had reportedly posted a string of violent remarks on his social media account on Truth Social in the recent months leading to the attack.

Josh Marcus reports on everything we know about Ricky Shiffer:

Who is Ricky Shiffer, the Trump-supporting Ohio gunman who attacked the FBI?

FBI probing Ohio shooter’s social media presence, ties to right-wing extremism - Report

04:46 , Arpan Rai

FBI investigators are probing Ohio shooting suspect Ricky Shiffer’s presence on social media platforms, and whether he had any links with right-wing extremism, CNN reported, citing a source.

The officials are also looking into whether the suspect had any connection with any of the groups involved in the Capitol riots and if he was himself involved in the violent attack, reported CNN citing a separate federal law enforcement source.

According to a Truth Social account reported to belong to the shooting suspect, Shiffer referred to making an attempt to storm an FBI office and also urged others online to brace for a war for revolution, the report added.

Armed man who threatened FBI office in Ohio shot by police

04:03 , Graeme Massie

ICYMI: Police have shot and killed Ricky Shiffer, 42, an armed man who threatened an Ohio FBI office on Thursday morning, leading to a prolonged car chase and standoff throughout the day.

Here’s the Ohio State Patrol announcing what happened.

Standoff over as Ohio officials probe whether man who threatened FBI had Jan 6 ties: officials

03:08 , Graeme Massie

ICYMI: An hourslong standoff between Ohio police and an armed man accused of threatening a Cincinnati FBI field office on Thursday has come to an end, according to local officials.

“Law enforcement operations and response has ended,” Clinton County Emergency Management Agency announced on Thursday.

It’s unclear whether the individual—who allegedly fired a nail gun and brandished an assault rifle at FBI agents, and later shot at police—has been arrested, killed, or otherwise.

Police are now probing whether the man, unofficially identified by two anonymous law enforcement sources in The New York Times as Ricky Shiffer, 42, has any ties to the January 6 attacks on the US Capitol in 2021.

Social media accounts appearing to belong to the man indicate he was present in Washington on 5 and 6 January for pro-Trump demonstrations, and claimed to have been present at the storming of the Capitol.

More details to come on this breaking news story.

Standoff over as Ohio officials probe if man who threatened FBI had Jan 6 ties

Standoff with man who threatened FBI has ‘ended’: officials

02:03 , Graeme Massie

ICYMI: The hours-long standoff on Thursday between Ohio police and an armed man accused of threatening a Cincinnati FBI office has ended, according to county officials.

The Clinton County Emergency Management Agency announced that “law enforcement operations and response has ended. Some operations will continue on-scene,” in a terse update on Thursday evening.

It’s unclear whether the individual was arrested, killed, or otherwise.

Witness describes watching FBI chase armed assailant

01:01 , Graeme Massie

ICYMI: Farmer Rob Thompson was stunned this morning as a blazing police chase sped past his farm in Wilmington, Ohio.

“I thought, since we are by the interstate, that they were just chasing a speeder,” Mr Thompson told The New York Times.

But it was far from just a speeder. Instead, officers are still in pursuit of an armed man who allegedly threatened an FBI office in Cincinnati this morning.

The farmer said he wasn’t worried for his safety.

“He could be in the cornfield or a thicket of trees nearby, but they have him contained,” he continued.

Die-hard Trump fans claim Ohio FBI shootout is a ‘false flag’ attack

Thursday 11 August 2022 21:25 , Josh Marcus

Well, that didn’t take long.

The diehard Donald Trump fans on r/TheDonald, a popular (and often NSFW) Reddit page, are claiming that the armed threats against an FBI field office in Ohio today were “staged.”

As NBC News reporter Ben Collins reports, nearly “every top post” on the page at the moment has some version of the conspiracy theory.

Speculation about the FBI has been flying in conservative circles since the Justice Department raid on Donald Trump earlier this week.

Trumpworld informant reportedly told FBI about classified docs at Mar-a-Lago

Ex-FBI official fears Ohio attack could act as a rallying cry for ‘other unhinged’ people

Thursday 11 August 2022 21:10 , Josh Marcus

An assault on the FBI’s Cincinnati headquarters could act as a rallying cry for other “unhinged” people to launch copycat attacks, a former top agent has warned.

Authorities said a man armed with an assault rifle and wearing body armour tried to breach the Ohio field office on Thursday, before sparking a stand-off after fleeing towards a highway.

Former FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe told CNN on Thursday it was “coincidental” that the attack on an FBI field office came so soon after the search warrant was executed on Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago property.

Mr McCabe said the attacks endangered lives and called on Justice Department leaders to address the “overheated rhetoric ... that has literally created the threat towards members of the department”.

Bevan Hurley has the story for The Independent.

Ex-FBI official fears Ohio attack could act as a rallying cry for ‘unhinged’ people

Suspect was driving Ford Crown Victor and fired gunshot

Thursday 11 August 2022 20:50 , Josh Marcus

The Ohio State Police came close to nabbing the individual who allegedly threatened an FBI office in Cincinnati today.

State troopers located the individual’s vehicle, a Ford Crown Victoria, near a rest area on Interstate 71 at approximately 9.37am, the agency said on Thursday.

Upon seeing officers, “the suspect fled and a pursuit ensued.”

As troopers chased the man, a suspected gun shot was fired inside the car.

Eventually, the alleged assailant ditched his car and ran into a cornfield near Wilmington, Ohio, exchanging gunfire with officers and sustaining unknown injuries.

WATCH: Ohio officials provide update on armed standoff

Thursday 11 August 2022 20:25 , Josh Marcus

Ohio officials are engaged in an ongoing standoff with an individual who allegedly threatened an FBI field office in Cincinnati this morning.

Here’s their latest update.

Merrick Garland speaking in Washington

Thursday 11 August 2022 20:08 , Josh Marcus

Attorney General Merrick Garland is now speaking in Washington, DC.

He’s expected to mostly address the recent search at Donald Trump’s Florida residence, but we’ll keep an eye out for any updates on the Ohio standoff.

Traffic on I-71 back open as suspect ‘contained’ in cornfield: officials

Thursday 11 August 2022 19:53 , Josh Marcus

The armed man suspected of threatening an Ohio FBI office is still hiding out in a cornfield, according to local officials.

The Clinton County Emergency Management Agency said on Thursday afternoon that the “suspect has not yet been taking into custody, but is contained,” after numerous law enforcement officers surrounded the field.

Traffic on I-71, temporarily shut down for security reasons, is now back open in both directions.

Will Merrick Garland address Ohio FBI standoff?

Thursday 11 August 2022 19:43 , Josh Marcus

Attorney General Merrick Garland is expected to offer remarks today about the recent FBI raid at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club and residence in Florida.

The top Justice Department official may also offer new information about the ongoing standoff in Ohio involving a man who allegedly threatened an FBI field office in Cincinnati.

Eric Garcia has more on what to expect from the AG.

Merrick Garland to give a statement on Trump Mar-a-Lago raid

Farmer says he’s watching Ohio FBI standoff ‘from top of the grain bin’

Thursday 11 August 2022 19:22 , Josh Marcus

Details are still emerging about a massive law enforcement standoff in Ohio involving a man who allegedly threatened an FBI field office.

The FBI, Ohio State Highway Patrol, and local police have all converged on a cornfield near Wilmington, Ohio, and surrounded the alleged assailant.

Livestock farmer Bryan Vaughan of Wilmington wrote on Twitter on Thursday’s he can see at least 40 police vehicles from the top of his grain bin.

Dramatic shoot-out after armed man threatened FBI office in Ohio and led police on car chase

Thursday 11 August 2022 19:03 , Josh Marcus

There’s an ongoing standoff in Ohio after an armed man made threats at an FBI office in Cincinnati and led police on a car chase.

NBC News reporter Ken Dilanian said on MSNBC that “a man entered ... and fired a nail gun at law enforcement ... The man then held up an AR-15 style rifle before fleeing in a vehicle”.

He added: “A pursuit then occurred … Then the suspect got out of the car and there was a standoff.”

The Wilmington News Journal reported that police scanner traffic updates from the incident said that at 10am, the suspect, described as bald and wearing sunglasses, entered a cornfield and aimed a pistol at police, prompting law enforcement to set up a perimeter.

Gustaf Kilander is following this breaking news story.

Shoot-out after armed man threatened FBI office in Ohio and led police on car chase

Live coverage of the Ohio standoff

Thursday 11 August 2022 19:02 , Josh Marcus

Hello and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of the ongoing police standoff in Ohio, which comes as an armed man allegedly threatened an FBI office in Cincinnati.

Thursday 11 August 2022 19:01 , Josh Marcus