Iced Earth guitarist Jon Schaffer has officially been arrested for his participation in the Capitol Riot that took place on January 6th. Schaffer, who resides in Columbus, Indiana, turned himself in on Sunday (17th) afternoon. 

Chris Bavender, public affairs specialist for the FBI Indianapolis Field Office, issued the following statement:

“Jon Schaffer, Columbus, IN, has been arrested in connection to Jan 6 incident at the U.S. Capitol. Schaffer faces 6 charges including engaging in an act of physical violence in a Capitol building. Schaffer was allegedly among rioters who sprayed Capitol police with ‘bear spray.’”

According to the FBI Indianapolis Field Office, Schaffer is facing six charges against him:

1) Knowingly Entering or Remaining in any Restricted Building or Grounds Without Lawful Authority

2) Disrupting the Orderly Conduct of Government Business

3) Knowingly Engages in an Act of Physical Violence Against any Person or Property in any Restricted Building or Grounds

4) Violent Entry and Disorderly Conduct in a Capitol Building

5) Engage in an Act of Physical Violence in a Capitol Building

6) Parade, Demonstrate, or Picket in a Capitol Building

According to Justice.gov, photos reveal Schaffer was among the rioters who sprayed United States Capitol Police officers with “bear spray,” a form of capsaicin pepper spray used to deter aggressive or charging bears. The photographs that appear in Justice.gov, also show Schaffer wearing a blue hooded sweatshirt under a tactical vest with a baseball cap reading, “Oath Keepers Lifetime Member.” Oath Keepers is a far-right anti-government militia organization that urged President Donald Trump to declare Martial Law to prevent the certification of the Electoral College Results during the 2020 election.  

Iced Earth members and Schaffer’s Demons & Wizards collaborator Hansi Kürsch have since responded to Schaffer’s participation as they shared they condone the riots that took place at the US Capitol building. Read their statements here. 

Jon Schaffer, Columbus, IN, has been arrested in connection to Jan 6 incident at the U.S. Capitol. Schaffer faces 6 charges including engaging in an act of physical violence in a Capitol building. Schaffer was allegedly among rioters who sprayed Capitol police with “bear spray.”

— FBI Indianapolis (@FBIIndianapolis) January 18, 2021