Capitol riot
Iced Earth guitarist Jon Schaffer has been arrested
Jon Schaffer at the MetalDays in Slovenia in July 2019.
© Marko Zamrznuti tonovi / shutterstock.com
US guitarist Jon Schaffer was arrested in connection with the storm on the Capitol. He is charged with six offenses.
US musician Jon Schaffer (52) was arrested on Sunday (January 17th) in connection with the storming of the Capitol on January 6th. That gave the FBI Indianapolis on twitter known. The guitarist is charged with six offenses, including forcibly entering the Capitol and using "bear spray" (a type of pepper spray as a defense against bear attacks). This comes from a list by the US Department of Justice, in which all arrests in connection with the riot are documented.
With a photo that showed Schaffer involved in the storming of the Capitol, the FBI had searched for him across the country. According to "Indy Star", the musician is said to have turned himself in to the authorities. Schaffer is employed by the metal bands Iced Earth, Demons & Wizards and Sons of Liberty as a songwriter and guitarist, his musical future is probably more uncertain now. The band Iced Earth ("Horror Show") had distanced themselves from the uprising. "We do not tolerate or support any unrest or acts of violence in which the rioters were involved on January 6th in the US Capitol. We hope that all those involved will be held accountable," wrote the rest of the members on Instagram.
Blind Guardian, singer Hansi Kürsch (54) also has the side project Demons & Wizards with Schaffer, said after the riots on their website: "We are deeply shaken and the thoughts of the relatives of the deceased. The incidents are fully cleared up and those responsible are brought forward to be held accountable to the courts. "