CINCINNATI – A 26-year-old Ohio man accused of damaging the Cincinnati home of Vice President Kamala Harris on Monday is believed to be experiencing a mental health crisis, according to his attorney and family. The incident, which unfolded while Harris and her husband where in Washington, D.C., wasn’t motivated by political grievances, they said.
Vandalism at vice President’s Home Linked to Mental Health
Authorities say William DeFoor damaged windows at the residence with a hammer.
- William D. DeFoor, 26, faces both federal and local charges.
- The damage is estimated to be over $28,000.
- Authorities and the suspect’s family attribute the incident to a mental health issue, not political motivation.
- A hearing is scheduled for Friday.
Q: What prompted the damage to Vice President Harris’s home?
A: According to statements from the suspect’s family and legal counsel, the incident appears to be linked to a mental health issue and was not politically motivated.
DeFoor’s mother, Catherine DeFoor, described her son as a high-achieving student with a passion for music. “Mental illness is a terrible thing,” she said in a statement to reporters outside federal court. “It is a struggle which can take over the life of a beautiful person and the people who love and support them. Unfortunately for our child, it has taken over his life in a way that we can never have imagined.”
Defense attorney Paul Laufman emphasized that his client’s actions were not tied to any political agenda.”This is purely a mental health issue,” Laufman stated,adding that DeFoor writes “peaceful” poetry and that Monday’s attack “had nothing to do with the specifics of the vice president.”
According to a criminal complaint filed by Gavin Hartsell, assistant special agent in charge of the FBI’s Cincinnati office, DeFoor initially attempted to break windows on a Secret Service vehicle blocking the driveway of the residence. An agent issued “loud clear commands” to stop and drop what was initially believed to be a hatchet.
Ignoring the commands, DeFoor allegedly used a hammer to shatter windows across the front of the home, breaking multiple glass panels in three large, historic windows. He then fled the scene before being apprehended by authorities.
Special Agent Hartsell’s report detailed the extent of the damage: marks and abrasions on the Secret Service vehicle’s window, and 14 broken glass panels across the front of the protected residence.The damage to enhanced security features on the windows is valued at over $28,000.
Catherine DeFoor expressed gratitude to the city police officers and Secret Service agents involved in the incident, praising their “problem solving” and “ability to stay calm and professional” during their interactions with her son.”They have stressful jobs,” she said. “They’re frequently faced with very unpredictable scenarios.”
