An armed suspect was shot and killed by law enforcement after an attempted breach of a Cincinnati FBI building led to a standoff in rural Clinton County, according to Ohio State Highway Patrol.
According to Ohio State Highway Patrol, it started around 9 a.m. when an armed man attempted to breach FBI Cincinnati’s visitor screening facility.
An alarm went off and FBI special agents responded when the man fired a nail gun at law enforcement personnel, sources tell NBC. The man then held up an AR-15-style rifle before fleeing in a vehicle north onto I-71 leading Ohio State Highway Patrol on a pursuit.
Police said during the pursuit, the suspect fired shots from his vehicle before getting off the highway, stopping near Smith Road in Clinton County.
That’s when police said the suspect and officers exchanged gunfire, leading to a standoff.
Law enforcement officers attempted to negotiate with the suspect but were unsuccessful.
That’s when officers attempted to move forward and take the suspect into custody but those efforts were also unsuccessful, OSP said.
The suspect later raised a firearm toward law enforcement and shots were fired by officers on the scene. The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene, OSP said.
No officers were injured during the standoff. Police have not identified the suspect but NBC News reports he has been identified as Ricky Walter Shiffer.
FBI Director Christopher Wray released a statement following the attempted breach and fatal standoff:
“Unfounded attacks on the integrity of the FBI erode respect for the rule of law and are a grave disservice to the men and women who sacrifice so much to protect others. Violence and threats against law enforcement, including the FBI, are dangerous and should be deeply concerning to all Americans. 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. I am proud to serve alongside them.”
The Cincinnati FBI office released a separate statement out the incident Thursday night and said they will be investigating the shooting.
“On August 11, 2022 at approximately 9:15 a.m., an armed male subject attempt to breach the Visitor Screening Facility at the FBI Cincinnati Field Office. The subject eventually fled and was encountered by the FBI, Ohio State Highway Patrol, and local law enforcement near Wilmington, OH. The subject shot at law enforcement officers. During the incident, law enforcement also fired their weapons. At approximately 3:45 p.m., the subject was shot and is deceased. The FBI is now reviewing this agent-involved shooting. The FBI takes all shooting incidents involving our agents or task force members seriously. In accordance with FBI policy, the shooting incident is under investigation by the FBI’s Inspection Division. The review process is thorough and objective, and is conducted as expeditiously as possible under the circumstances.”
This is a breaking news story, WLWT is working to learn more and will continue to update with the latest information as it comes in.
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