CINCINNATI – A man has been taken into custody following an overnight attack on the private residence of Vice President JD Vance in the East Walnut Hills neighborhood. The incident, which occurred shortly after midnight on Monday, January 5, 2026, resulted in several broken windows but no injuries, as the Vice President and his family were already back in Washington, D.C.
Midnight Security Breach
The U.S. Secret Service reported that agents assigned to the property heard a loud noise around 12:15 AM. Upon investigation, they discovered an individual attempting to enter the home after smashing exterior windows with a hammer.
- Rapid Response: Secret Service personnel detained the suspect on the scene before Cincinnati Police officers officially took him into custody.
- Property Damage: At least four window panes were shattered. Additionally, one official noted that a Secret Service vehicle parked in the driveway had been vandalized during the suspect’s approach.
- No Entry: Preliminary investigations suggest the suspect did not successfully gain entry to the residence before being apprehended.
“A Crazy Person with a Hammer”
Vice President Vance took to X (formerly Twitter) on Monday morning to address the situation and reassure the public.
“I appreciate everyone’s well-wishers about the attack at our home. As far as I can tell, a crazy person tried to break in by hammering the windows. I’m grateful to the Secret Service and the Cincinnati police for responding quickly.” — JD Vance
Vance also issued a plea to the media, asking them to refrain from “plastering images” of the damaged home to protect his children from the “realities of this life of public service.”
Context: High-Security Environment
The incident occurred just hours after local security restrictions in the neighborhood had been lifted. Due to the Vice President’s presence over the New Year holiday, roads had been closed and checkpoints established from December 29 until Sunday afternoon.
Current Security Status: | Entity | Role in Investigation | | :— | :— | | U.S. Secret Service | Leading the probe into the breach and potential targeting. | | Cincinnati Police | Assisting with the arrest and local property damage charges. | | U.S. Attorney’s Office | Reviewing the case for potential federal charges. |
The Political Backdrop
The attack on Vance’s home comes during a period of extreme international tension following the U.S. military raid in Venezuela. Vance was closely involved in the planning of that operation, though he monitored it via secure video conference from Cincinnati rather than attending the Mar-a-Lago briefing, a move officials say was intended to avoid “tipping off” foreign adversaries through his motorcade movements.