Armed suspect who tried to breach Cincinnati FBI building dead after standoff: OSHP

Wilmington, Ohio — A law enforcement standoff with a man who attempted to breach the FBI’s field office in Cincinnati on Thursday has ended with the suspect dead, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

Troopers from the Ohio State Highway Patrol located the suspect’s vehicle, a Ford Crown Victoria, near the northbound Interstate 71 rest area in Turtlecreek Township, Warren County at approximately 9:37 a.m.

Once troopers got behind the vehicle, the suspect fled and a pursuit ensued. While behind the vehicle, a suspected gun shot was fired from inside the suspect’s vehicle. The pursuit continued on Interstate 71 until the suspect exited at state Route 73, traveling eastbound before turning onto Smith Rd.

The suspect’s vehicle came to a stop at approximately 9:53 a.m. on Smith Rd. near Van Trees Rd. in Chester Township.

The suspect exited the vehicle and engaged officers, where gunfire was exchanged on two separate occasions. The suspect then utilized his vehicle for cover, and a standoff situation began.

Throughout the afternoon troopers and law enforcement partners attempted to negotiate with the suspect to bring the standoff to an end.

Once negotiations failed, troopers attempted to take the suspect into custody by utilizing less lethal tactics. At approximately 3:42 p.m., the suspect raised a firearm and shots were fired by law enforcement officers. The suspect succumbed to fatal injuries on scene, according to OSHP.

The male suspect has been identified as 42-year-old Ricky W. Shiffer, of Columbus.

While authorities are still investigating a motive, Shiffer was allegedly at the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6 insurrection, the Associated Press reports. He was not charged with any crimes related to Jan. 6.

Additionally, an account bearing Shiffer’s name on “Truth Social,” Donald Trump’s social media platform for conservatives, appears to have referenced an attempt to gain access to the FBI building. The user also called for people to prepare themselves for “combat” in the days after the FBI executed a search warrant at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida for classified materials.

The incident remains under investigation by the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.