First Rioter Charged with Firing Gun During Jan. 6 Capitol Attack

John Banuelos faces multiple felony charges, including discharging a weapon on Capitol grounds, in a landmark case for Jan. 6 prosecutions.

John Banuelos, 39, of Summit, Illinois, has been arrested and charged with firing a gun during the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, marking the first instance of a rioter being charged with discharging a firearm at the event.
Banuelos faces multiple felony charges, including civil disorder and discharging a weapon on Capitol grounds, with some charges carrying a maximum of 10 years in prison if convicted.
Previously unidentified footage published last month showed Banuelos firing two shots into the air outside the Capitol, confirming his involvement in the attack.
Banuelos had previously been accused of fatally stabbing a 19-year-old in Utah in July 2021, claiming self-defense. He was not charged in that case but admitted to being at the Capitol during the Jan. 6 riot.
More than 1,300 people have been charged in connection with the Jan. 6 attack, with over 950 convictions secured by prosecutors.