A 26-year-old man was reportedly arrested early Monday after allegedly attempting to break into the Cincinnati home of Vice President JD Vance by smashing windows with a hammer, prompting a swift response from the U.S. Secret Service and local police.
Authorities identified the suspect as William Defoor, who was detained shortly after midnight after Secret Service agents found him trespassing at Vance’s residence in the Walnut Hills neighborhood. Defoor has been charged with vandalism, obstructing official business, criminal damaging and criminal trespass. Officials said additional federal charges are possible as the investigation continues.
Neither the vice president nor his family was at the home when the incident occurred. Vance later addressed the situation publicly, thanking law enforcement for their rapid response and emphasizing that his family was safe.
“I appreciate everyone’s well wishes about the attack at our home,” Vance wrote on X. “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. We weren’t even home as we had returned already to DC.”
Vance also pushed back against what he suggested could be sensational coverage of the incident, particularly when it comes to publishing images of his family’s residence. He urged the media to consider the impact on his children.
“One request to the media: we try to protect our kids as much as possible from the realities of this life of public service,” he said. “In that light, I am skeptical of the news value of plastering images of our home with holes in the windows.”
According to the Associated Press, Defoor was able to reach the vice president’s home without being detected before Secret Service agents heard the sound of glass breaking. Authorities said at least one window was shattered during the attempted break-in. A Secret Service vehicle assigned to the area was also vandalized in the incident.
Defoor was taken into custody and is currently being held at the Hamilton County Detention Center. He is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday. The Secret Service said it is working closely with local and federal prosecutors as they review potential charges.
“The U.S. Secret Service is coordinating with the Cincinnati Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office as charging decisions are reviewed,” the agency said in a statement.
Court records and prior reporting indicate Defoor has a history of run-ins with the law, including previous arrests for trespassing and vandalism. In November 2023, a judge dismissed a criminal trespassing case after determining that Defoor was not competent to stand trial.
More recently, Defoor was sentenced to receive mental health treatment in connection with a separate vandalism case earlier this year. According to WXIX, that incident involved more than $2,000 in damage to an interior design company.
The attempted break-in underscores the ongoing security challenges facing high-ranking public officials and their families, even away from Washington. While authorities emphasized that there is no indication the incident was politically coordinated, the fact that a suspect was able to reach the vice president’s home before being detected has renewed attention on residential security for national leaders.
For now, officials say the situation is contained, the suspect remains in custody, and there was no threat to the vice president or his family.
