US Vice-President JD Vance's private residence in Cincinnati, Ohio, was targeted in an overnight attack, with one individual now in custody after attempting to breach the property.
Hammer Attack on Vice-Presidential Residence
Authorities confirmed that an adult male was arrested shortly after midnight on Monday following an incident at the East Walnut Hills home. The suspect allegedly used a hammer to smash several windows on the ground floor of the property in an attempt to gain entry.
Vance, who had spent the previous week at the house overlooking the Ohio River, was not present at the time. He had departed the residence on Sunday afternoon. The US Secret Service, which provides the Vice-President with round-the-clock personal protection, stated it is coordinating with the Cincinnati Police Department and the US Attorney's Office as charging decisions are reviewed.
Secret Service Agents Witness Disturbance
According to law enforcement sources who spoke to the Associated Press, Secret Service agents stationed at the property heard a loud noise around midnight. Upon investigating, they discovered an individual who had broken a window and was trying to get inside. The man also vandalised a Secret Service vehicle parked on the driveway before approaching the house.
Cincinnati news channel WLWT reported that agents and local police spent several hours at the scene after responding to reports of damage. The channel published a photograph showing damage to at least four panes of glass in what appeared to be a ground-floor window.
Political Figures Face Heightened Security Concerns
The attack comes amid heightened security concerns for public officials across the United States. Many politicians have reassessed their personal security arrangements following several high-profile incidents.
These include the June 2025 killing of Minnesota state legislator Melissa Hortman and her husband at their Minneapolis home, and an attack on another Democratic lawmaker in the same city that same night. In a separate case from October 2024, a man was sentenced to 30 years in prison for attacking Paul Pelosi, the husband of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, with a hammer at their California home.
While Vance receives constant personal protection from the Secret Service, the level of static security at his private residences varies based on his travel schedule and intelligence assessments. The incident is under active investigation.
