In brief
Donald Phillip Henson, 46, drove his car into FBI security gates in Pittsburgh while covered in an American flag, leading to his arrest later. The FBI described the incident as a targeted attack, with no injuries reported. Henson invoked a historical Latin phrase associated with tyranny during his capture and was charged with assault with a deadly weapon and damaging government property.
PITTSBURGH (AP) — A man drove his car into an FBI security gate in Pittsburgh while draped in an American flag, stating later that he aimed to 'make a statement,' according to FBI reports. The suspect, Donald Phillip Henson, 46, eluded authorities for seven hours after the incident before being apprehended. During his interaction with the FBI, he invoked the Latin phrase sic semper tyrannis, historically linked to figures opposing tyranny, like John Wilkes Booth after assassinating President Abraham Lincoln.Henson is facing charges of assault with a deadly weapon and property damage, with a detention hearing scheduled for Tuesday. This was a targeted attack on this building, asserted Christopher Giordano, assistant special agent in charge of the FBI in Pittsburgh, even though no personnel were harmed.Details regarding Henson's motive or how he managed to evade capture post-incident were not immediately available. Giordano noted Henson as a former military member, and public records indicate he had voted in the recent 2024 general election as a registered Republican. Attempts to contact him via a listed telephone number did not yield any responses, nor did he have a legal representative listed in court records.Henson had reportedly visited the FBI field office a few weeks prior with nonsensical complaints, according to Giordano. Witness observations indicated messages displayed in the car’s window and an emblem resembling that of the U.S. Air Force. Fortunately, investigators, including bomb squad teams, confirmed there were no explosives found.In a bankruptcy filing from the previous year, Henson reported significant financial distress, with $380,000 in student loan debt and modest monthly earnings. The incident raises questions not only about security protocols at federal establishments but also about the motivations driving such acts of aggression.
