- Police killed a man who tried to breach a Cincinnati FBI office on Thursday, officials said.
- The incident comes three days after the FBI executed a search warrant at Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort.
- Authorities declined to comment on the suspect's motive, but media outlets reported that he had Jan. 6 ties.
Police fatally shot the armed man accused of trying to breach an FBI office in Cincinnati on Thursday morning, Lt. Nathan Dennis of the Ohio State Highway Patrol said in a press conference.
The suspect led authorities on a lengthy car chase after his efforts to enter the office failed, according to officials, before engaging officers in a tense standoff. The suspect, who was wearing body armor, "traded shots" with law enforcement during the car chase, authorities said.
Lieutenant Dennis told reporters that officers tried to negotiate with the suspect and made efforts to take him into custody with "less-than-lethal tactics," but fatally shot the man after he raised a gun.
Authorities declined to confirm the suspect's identity or offer speculation about his possible motive during the Thursday evening press conference, but several media outlets identified Ricky Shiffer, 42, as the suspect.
NBC News reported that Shiffer was at the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, while The New York Times reported that investigators were looking into whether he had ties to extremist groups involved in the insurrection. A social media account appearing to belong to Shiffer claimed to have been present at the Capitol during the siege, The Times reported. Shiffer was not arrested or charged with any crimes related to that day.
The Thursday incident came just three days after the FBI executed a search warrant at former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence, prompting fierce backlash from Republicans and calls for Civil War from Trump devotees. Some Trump supporters also called for protests at FBI offices around the country, prompting Attorney General Merrick Garland on Thursday to publicly defend the Justice Department during a rare statement.
It is currently unknown if the Cincinnati episode is in any way related to the Mar-a-Lago incident.
No police officers were injured in the pursuit, authorities previously said.