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Jon Schaffer of the center, a native of Central Indiana and founder of the heavy metal band Iced Earth, was photographed among a metal crowd that invaded the Capitol.
AFP via Getty Images
A heavy metal guitarist accused of being part of a group of Capitol rioters who sprayed the police with “bear spray” was arrested on Sunday, according to the FBI.
Jon Schaffer, a founding member of a Florida-based heavy metal band called Iced Earth, is facing six charges, including involvement in an act of physical violence in a Capitol building, the FBI office in Indianapolis tweeted.
Schaffer was first identified after his image appeared on an FBI poster in search of protesters who “illegally entered” the Capitol during the January 6 deadly siege, the Indianapolis Star reported.
He has already attended Trump’s rallies and once appeared as a guest on the radio program of far-right conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, the newspaper reported.
Schaffer’s four bandmates released a statement denouncing the disturbances.
“We hope that everyone involved that day will be brought to justice to be investigated and answer for their actions,” says the statement.
“With a broken heart, we are sending our love and compassion to everyone who has felt the pain of the events of January 6th.”