A man rammed his car into the front gate of the FBI’s Pittsburgh field office early Wednesday.
The suspect then fled the scene on foot, sparking a manhunt across the area.
The Attack
Officials said the crash happened around 2:40 a.m. at the secure entrance.
The car, a white Toyota sedan, smashed the reinforced gate beyond repair.
The driver exited the vehicle and retrieved an American flag.
He threw the flag over the gate before running off into the night.
Nearby workers reported hearing screeching tires followed by a loud crash.
Witnesses saw the man yelling as he placed the flag on the gate.
Authorities initially treated the incident as a possible act of terror.
Suspect Identified
The suspect has been identified as 46-year-old Donald Phillip Henson.
He is a military veteran and a resident of Penn Hills, Pennsylvania.
Donald Henson
FBI officials confirmed Henson was known to the office.
Weeks earlier, he visited the field office to file an unusual complaint.
Agents investigated his claims but determined there was no federal nexus.
He was contacted and told no charges would be pursued at the time.
Capture and Charges
Henson was apprehended about seven hours after fleeing the crash.
He allegedly told FBI agents he did it to “make a statement.”
He also invoked the Latin phrase “sic semper tyrannis.”
That phrase, meaning “thus always to tyrants,” was shouted by John Wilkes Booth after assassinating President Abraham Lincoln.
Henson has been charged with assaulting federal officers and damaging government property.
Prosecutors say he faces up to 20 years in prison and $250,000 in fines.
Official Response
“This was a targeted attack on this building,” said FBI Special Agent Christopher Giordano.
He called the crash a deliberate act against law enforcement.
Christopher Giordano
Acting U.S. Attorney Troy Rivetti praised FBI agents for quickly apprehending Henson.
“Our office remains vigilant in response to any attack,” Rivetti said.
Investigators, including a bomb squad, found no explosives inside the vehicle.
Background
Public records list Henson as a registered Republican voter.
Court records show he filed for bankruptcy last year with heavy student loan debt.
He reported $380,000 in loans, few assets, and minimal income.
Henson previously operated a business called Insomnia Solutions that later failed.
He is being held in custody until a detention hearing scheduled for Tuesday.
