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The Justice Department has released photos of arrested heavy metal guitarist Jon Schaffer wielding a bear bomb during the Jan.6 riot on Capitol Hill.
Schaffer – the founder of Iced Earth – has been taken into custody in the Southern District of Indiana, according to the list of people charged with federal riot related offenses.
Schaffer, 52, of Columbus, Indiana, traveled to Indianapolis on Sunday after discovering he was wanted by federal authorities, the FBI tweeted on Sunday.
The DOJ released this photo of a man believed to be the founder of the Iced Earth group, John Schaffer, holding a can of bear spray that the FBI said he used against Capitol Police during the riot.
Schaffer (left in 2010 and most recently right) was arrested Sunday after surrendering to authorities in Indiana
He faces six counts stemming from his alleged acts on Capitol Hill, including violent entry and disorderly conduct at a Capitol building, act of physical violence at a Capitol building and disrupting the orderly conduct of government business .
According to the FBI’s fact statement against Schaffer, he was named by “many people” after the FBI asked for help identifying him.
FBI said Schaffer was among rioters who sprayed United States Capitol Police officers with “bear spray,” a form of capsaicin pepper spray sold by many outdoor retailers. , as part of their efforts to push the officers back inside the Capitol and breach the Capitol building themselves.
He was seen in photos and under surveillance arguing with Capitol Police inside the Capitol building, the FBI said.
The statement of fact included several images, according to the FBI, showing Schaffer in action on Capitol Hill.
The FBI released this image of a man suspected of being Schaffer holding bear spray (in circle)
Authorities said Schaffer (in circle) was wearing a blue hoodie under a tactical vest
Schaffer is among dozens of people facing federal charges after being seen on Capitol Hill during the January 6 riots. Pro-Trump supporters are pictured storming the Capitol that day
Among them was an image of a man – so-called Schaffer – wearing a blue hoodie under a tactical vest with a baseball cap marked “Oath Keepers Lifetime Member”. In the image, the man appears to be screaming and pointing what the FBI said was bear bomb at someone out of camera view.
The FBI has said that “ Oath Keepers ” is an organization claiming to be a militia of former law enforcement and military personnel who “ urged President Trump to declare martial law in order to prevent Congress from certifying the results of the electoral college. ”
FBI said Schaffer (pictured) once called himself an ‘anarchist’ and claimed the 2016 presidential election was rigged
The FBI did not say whether Schaffer had any police or military training, but did confirm that he was “a person of some celebrity in the heavy metal music industry.”
The FBI said Schaffer called himself an “ anarchist ” in an interview and claimed that the 2016 presidential election was rigged, in a 2017 interview.
Schaffer reportedly attended the “ MAGA Million March ” in Washington on November 14, 2020 and wore the same blue hooded sweatshirt he was reportedly pictured in on Capitol Hill on January 6.
During the Million MAGA March, the FBI said Schaffer told the media that “if anyone wants to provoke violence, I think many of us here are ready for it. We don’t want that, but if they bring it, we’ll answer it, trust me.
He added: “We are not going to merge into a globalist and communist system, it will not happen. There will be a lot of bloodshed if it comes down to that, trust me.
The November 2020 interview was conducted by Die Welt.
Members of Iced Earth have spoken of Schaffer’s alleged involvement in the Capitol Riot in Instagram posts.
“Some of you have been concerned about our silence, which we understand. We needed some time to properly process the information and find out some facts before making a statement, ” bassist Luke Appleton and singer Stu Block wrote, according to Billboard.
“ We absolutely do not condone or support the riots or acts of violence in which the rioters were involved on January 6 on the U.S. Capitol. We hope that everyone involved that day will be brought to justice to be investigated and held accountable.
The note was signed by Block, Appleton, guitarist Jake Dreyer and drummer Brent Smedley.
Five people were killed in the riot on Capitol Hill on January 6, when Trump supporters stormed the building while a joint session of Congress was underway.
Crowds burst into the building as lawmakers certified the electoral college results confirming Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election in November, forcing members of Congress and Vice President Pence to evacuate the building.
Dozens of people have been arrested and face federal charges related to the riot.
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