An Indiana man was arrested Friday after carrying a loaded gun on the grounds of the United States Capitol and assaulting law enforcement during the Jan. 6 storming of the Capitol.
Mark Andrew Mazza, 56, was charged with illegal possession of a firearm on Capitol grounds, assaulting or impeding officers with a dangerous weapon, and civil disorder, among other charges. He is being held without bail.
Mazza brought a Taurus revolver to the Capitol, loaded with three shotgun shells and two hollow-point bullets, according to the Department of Justice. The gun fell out of his pocket at approximately 2:30 p.m., but he did not notice until later. At approximately 3 p.m., Mazza held the door open for the rioters storming the capitol.
‘QANON SHAMAN’ SENTENCED TO 41 MONTHS IN PRISON FOR ROLE IN JAN. 6 RIOT
Mazza’s attack against the police officers happened in the tunnel toward the Lower West Terrace doors, when he swung his baton at the officers. Mazza physically attacked officers with the baton and also helped others attack officers, including pulling more rioters into the tunnel to help put pressure on the officers defending the building, according to a statement of facts.
Two days after the attack, Mazza filed a false police report in which he claimed the gun was stolen at a casino in Ohio. Mazza told the Indianapolis Star that he filed it as stolen in case a member of antifa got a hold of it and killed someone so it would not be traced back to him. He also told his family that he would surrender if the police came for him.
“They can have me,” he said. “Because I may go down as a hero.”
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Over 675 people have been arrested on charges related to Jan. 6. One of the most prominent was Jacob Chansley, known as the Qanon Shaman, who was sentenced to 41 months in prison on Wednesday, the longest prison sentence handed down from the storming.
No court date has been set for Mazza.
