Jon Schaffer (R) is pictured during the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S Capitol. Photo provided.

Staff Report

INDIANAPOLIS – Iced Earth guitarist Jon Schaffer, of Columbus, has been taken into custody in connection with the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

The musician, who resides in Columbus, turned himself in on Sunday, Jan. 17, according to a statement from the FBI.

Schaffer was photographed taking part in the Jan 6 unrest at the U.S. Capitol. He faces six charges including engaging in an act of physical violence in a Capitol building. He allegedly carrying “bear spray.”

Last week, the FBI’s Washington Field Office released 40 photos of people who were suspected of unlawful entry during a violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol carried out on Jan. 6 during the final Congressional vote recording for the 2020 general election. Among them was a picture of Schaffer taken by Roberto Schmidt of AFP. In the photo, Schaffer could be seen at the front of a mob, sporting a hat from Oath Keepers, an anti-government militia group, wearing black leather fingerless tactical gloves and pointing his finger while yelling at someone out of the frame.

Readers can find extensive information about Schaffer on Wikipedia.