Man Arrested After Hammer Attack on Vice President JD Vance’s Cincinnati Home
A 26-year-old Ohio man was arrested early Monday after violently smashing windows at the Cincinnati home of Vice President JD Vance, an incident authorities are treating as a targeted attack on a sitting vice president.
According to law enforcement, Secret Service agents heard a loud noise just after midnight and discovered the suspect, identified as William DeFoor, had broken a window with a hammer and was attempting to gain entry into the residence. The suspect also vandalized a Secret Service vehicle while moving up the driveway.
DeFoor now faces multiple charges, including obstructing official business, criminal damaging, criminal trespass, and vandalism. Jail records show his first court appearance is scheduled for Tuesday.
Vice President Vance addressed the incident publicly, thanking law enforcement for their swift response and confirming that his family was not home at the time. “As far as I can tell, a crazy person tried to break in by hammering the windows,” Vance said, adding that he and his family had already returned to Washington, D.C.
Vance also made a pointed request to the media, urging outlets not to publicize images of the damage. He emphasized the importance of shielding his children from the consequences of political life and questioned the value of turning his family home into a spectacle.
Court records show the suspect has a history of vandalism and criminal behavior. Earlier this year, DeFoor pleaded guilty to two counts of vandalism after causing thousands of dollars in damage to a local business and was sentenced to mental health treatment along with restitution.
In a separate 2023 case, DeFoor was charged with criminal trespassing but later ruled mentally incompetent to stand trial, leading to the dismissal of those charges. A judge at the time found he was unable to understand the proceedings or assist in his defense.
The attack comes amid a broader climate of escalating political hostility directed at conservative leaders. Vance himself previously drew attention to the issue after confronting pro-Ukraine protesters who followed and harassed him while he was walking with his young daughter outside the same home.
“If you’re chasing a 3-year-old as part of a political protest, you’re a s–t person,” Vance said at the time, a remark that resonated widely with Americans concerned about the normalization of intimidation and harassment.
Monday’s arrest underscores growing concerns about political violence and the failure of the media and Democratic leaders to consistently condemn attacks when the targets are Republicans. Once again, law enforcement was left to step in after rhetoric crossed into real-world danger.