The Department of Justice on Friday told reporters that an Alabamian arrested during the U.S. Capitol riot on Wednesday had 11 Molotov cocktails filled with gasoline and homemade napalm in his pickup truck.
Capitol Police had previously announced that Lonnie Coffman of Falkville was arrested on charges related to an unregistered firearm, unregistered ammunition and carrying a pistol without a license.
Coffman, 70, reportedly lives close to the Morgan County and Cullman County line, per WAAY 31.
He is reportedly in law enforcement custody in Washington, D.C.
His truck was reportedly discovered and treated as a “suspicious vehicle” Wednesday near the RNC, where a pipe bomb was left. In searching the vehicle, law enforcement officers allegedly found two handguns, the Molotov cocktails and an M4 carbine.
A tweet Wednesday from U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama Prim F. Escalona would indicate that Coffman could very well face federal charges.
“The attack on our Nation’s Capitol strikes at the heart of our democracy. If anyone from Northern Alabama traveled to DC to commit these criminal acts then they’ll be prosecuted by the USAO-NDAL to the fullest extent of the law,” said Escalona.
As true with all charged with a crime, Coffman is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
UPDATE 2:55 p.m.
The Department of Justice in a release confirmed that Coffman has formally been charged with federal crimes. You can read the federal affidavit here.
“At this point, the United States Capitol Police does not attribute the explosive devices at the National Republican Club and the Democratic National Committee Headquarters to COFFMAN,” the affidavit clarified.
Sean Ross is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn
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