PITTSBURGH (AP) — A man who rammed a car into an FBI security gate in Pittsburgh and covered it in an American flag later claimed he did it to 'make a statement,' according to the FBI.
Donald Phillip Henson, a 46-year-old from Penn Hills, evaded capture for seven hours after the incident. When apprehended, he referenced the Latin phrase 'sic semper tyrannis,' meaning 'thus always to tyrants,' allegedly shouted by John Wilkes Booth after he assassinated President Abraham Lincoln.
Henson now faces charges of assault with a deadly weapon and damaging government property, and he will remain in custody until a detention hearing scheduled for Tuesday.
FBI Assistant Special Agent Christopher Giordano described the incident as a targeted attack on the building, although thankfully, no personnel were injured.
The FBI had prior contact with Henson. Giordano noted that he had visited the FBI field office a few weeks earlier for an unclear complaint. Furthermore, public records indicate Henson is a former military member and a Republican who participated in the 2024 general election.
Post-incident investigations found no explosives in Henson's car, which also displayed a U.S. Air Force sticker and bore a mysterious message on one window.
Henson's financial status is precarious; in a bankruptcy filing, he revealed $380,000 in student loan debt, limited assets, a defunct business, and an income of only $281 a month. Investigators are currently looking into the motives behind his actions.
Donald Phillip Henson, a 46-year-old from Penn Hills, evaded capture for seven hours after the incident. When apprehended, he referenced the Latin phrase 'sic semper tyrannis,' meaning 'thus always to tyrants,' allegedly shouted by John Wilkes Booth after he assassinated President Abraham Lincoln.
Henson now faces charges of assault with a deadly weapon and damaging government property, and he will remain in custody until a detention hearing scheduled for Tuesday.
FBI Assistant Special Agent Christopher Giordano described the incident as a targeted attack on the building, although thankfully, no personnel were injured.
The FBI had prior contact with Henson. Giordano noted that he had visited the FBI field office a few weeks earlier for an unclear complaint. Furthermore, public records indicate Henson is a former military member and a Republican who participated in the 2024 general election.
Post-incident investigations found no explosives in Henson's car, which also displayed a U.S. Air Force sticker and bore a mysterious message on one window.
Henson's financial status is precarious; in a bankruptcy filing, he revealed $380,000 in student loan debt, limited assets, a defunct business, and an income of only $281 a month. Investigators are currently looking into the motives behind his actions.
