Capitol mob drew Trump supporters of all stripes, from a fireman to a ‘QAnon shaman’

A QAnon shaman from Arizona. A firefighter from a small Florida city. A contractor with a history of financial troubles. A 70-year-old man. 

Participants in the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday came from many backgrounds and across the country with one common purpose – to protest what they saw as a stolen election. In social media posts and conversations with family, they staunchly support President Donald Trump. 

Help USA TODAY identify rioters who stormed the US Capitol

Though some conservative pundits, including Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, continued to blame members of antifa, all of the people identified so far by USA TODAY who breached the U.S. Capitol or were arrested had professed their support for Trump through social media postings and conversations with family or friends. 

By Thursday, they had become America’s most wanted, with the FBI, law enforcement agencies and the news media scrambling to identify the hundreds who invaded the federal building.

Many rioters weren’t shy about identifying themselves or why they were there. They snapped photos. They shared videos. They gave TV interviews. From a Baptist pastor in Missouri to a man convicted of attempted murder from Florida, all flaunted strong Trump allegiances.

Thousands of protesters were in the nation’s capital and participated in peaceful protests. But after Trump spoke for more than an hour to the crowd gathered for a rally, several hundred rushed the U.S. Capitol Police and invaded the historic building, scaling walls and rummaging around. 

Many were from small-town America. Some had legal or financial troubles. Some now find themselves in trouble with employers.

Here’s what we know about who they were: 

Richard Barnett

A photo of Richard Barnett lounging behind House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s desk with his feet kicked up flew around the world within hours. 

The 60-year-old Arkansas contractor, nicknamed “Bigo,” bragged on camera outside the Capitol about how he was escorted out, but not arrested. He’s a staunch Trump supporter known by Republicans in his community, and he attended a “Stop the Steal” rally in Northwest Arkansas in November. 

Self employed, he runs businesses out of his home in Gravette, a small town of about 2,300. He has a long history of financial woes, including those brought on by COVID-19. As Trump continued to downplay the threats of the virus, Barnett also tapped a government relief program meant to help businesses struggling because of the pandemic.

Barnett took out a $9,300 potentially forgivable loan in April from the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program, part of the CARES Act. He reported at the time that the stimulus funds would help save one job.

Barnett also faced a federal IRS tax lien of $12,790 in May 2006 and an additional $3,876 tax lien in September 2012. He has a $1,800 financial judgement on his record from Bank of Arkansas in 2007, and he was listed as a co-defendant in a civil foreclosure lawsuit, according to court records from Benton County.

U.S. Rep. Steve Womack, R-Ark., tweeted that he was “sickened” to learn from social media that the actions were “perpetrated by a constituent” from his district. 

“It’s an embarrassment to the people of the Third District and does not reflect our values,” Womack wrote on Twitter. “He must be held accountable and face the fullest extent of the law. This isn’t the American or Arkansas way.”

Jake Angeli 

In another viral photo, a bare-chested Arizona resident Jake Angeli sported a fur, horned hat and painted face. Angeli is a QAnon supporter who has been a fixture at Arizona right-wing political rallies over the past year. He calls himself a QAnon shaman.

Angeli told the Arizona Republic in 2020 that he wears the unusual costume as a way to attract attention, so he can speak to people about his beliefs about the QAnon conspiracy theory and other subjects. 

Adam Christian Johnson 

Another viral photo shows Adam Christian Johnson smiling under his Trump cap, casually holding a podium under his arm. National outlets reported it was Pelosi’s lectern.

Photos on his Facebook page, which has since been deleted, show the 36-year-old from Manatee County, Florida, descending into the nation’s capital for the rally. Johnson had misdemeanor drug arrests in 2004 and 2005 and was involved in a sealed domestic relations court case from 2010.

The registered Republican is a father of five with his wife, Suzanne, a family physician. They live together in a six-bedroom, 4,000-square-foot, pool home in Southwest Florida. Representatives from the medical practice declined to comment and would not connect USA TODAY reporters with the doctor, saying only that she was unavailable. 

Michael T. Curzio

Michael Curzio was among the rioters arrested by U.S. Capital Police for unlawful entry. It was not the Florida man’s first brush with law enforcement.

Curzio, 35, was released from prison in February 2019 following an eight-year sentence for pre-mediated or attempted first-degree murder, according to records from the Florida Department of Corrections.

It’s not clear exactly why Curzio was arrested on Wednesday. Details of the arrest were not released. 

Andy Williams

Small-town firefighter Andy Williams appeared below a sign for Pelosi’s office. Unsmiling, and wearing a Trump cap, hydration backpack and a mask pushed under his chin, Williams clutched a cellphone and pointed to the sign over his head. The photo quickly made its way to his employers in Sanford, Florida. City spokeswoman Bianca Gillett said Thursday that his participation in the riot is under investigation by the city. 

Derrick Evans

Derrick Evans, a Republican member of the West Virginia House of Delegates, posted video of himself wearing a helmet inside the Capitol. 

“We’re in! Keep it moving, baby!” Evans said in front of a doorway packed with people holding flags and saying they’d been pepper sprayed. 

His video, which was later deleted, showed him milling around the Rotunda, with its historic artwork, yelling “No vandalizing.”  His appearance spawned calls for his suspension or resignation from some of his fellow lawmakers. 

Tayler Hansen 

Tayler Hansen, founder of a movement called Baby Lives Matter, posted a graphic video he took inside the Capitol, showing the aftermath of the shooting of Ashli Babbitt, who died from her injuries. Capitol Police shot her as she tried to climb through a window.

Although Hansen agreed to be interviewed, he could not be reached by USA TODAY on Thursday. 

David Fitzgerald

Among dozens arrested after curfew Wednesday was David Fitzgerald, who frequently posts in support of Trump on Facebook, including writing “MAGA. Lvl 13” on a photo he posted this week.

Fitzgerald, 48, had traveled to Washington from Illinois. In a nearly eight-minute video he posted on Facebook, Fitzgerald appeared to be in a parking lot with the Capitol in the distance. He seemed to try to exit through barricades around the lot, following news crews being escorted out. Asked if he had a press pass, Fitzgerald appeared to say no.

“You gotta stay here,” a man replied. “There’s a curfew. You’re under arrest.”

A cellphone listed for Fitzgerald did not work and he did not respond to a Facebook message.

Anthony Tammaro 

When Anthony Tammaro left his home in rural northern Pennsylvania to join the throngs of Trump supporters marching in Washington, his wife said she was not surprised, given his interest in the campaign. She too is a Trump supporter, but decided not to join him on the trip. 

After seeing clips on the news that the event turned violent, she said she had only heard from her husband once. 

“He was way in the back and getting pushed around,” Mary Tammaro told USA TODAY. “I talked to him at about 9 p.m., and that’s the last I heard from him. I’m worried. I was up all night.”

Her husband, known as “Tony,” was among those arrested at the Capitol on Wednesday for curfew violation and unlawful entry. His Facebook profile includes several posts critical of the presidential election results, including a Nov. 25 message cursing President-elect Joe Biden. The profile states he works at Goodwill Industries of Northern Pennsylvania.

Mark Leffingwell 

Mark Leffingwell’s name appeared among the first federal charges that began rolling into D.C.’s district court on Thursday. Capitol Police officer Daniel Amendola wrote in a complaint that Leffingwell attempted to push past him into the Capitol building.

The officer says Leffingwell punched him repeatedly. While in custody, Leffingwell “spontaneously apologized for striking (him).”

Leffingwell is charged with entering a restricted building, assault on a federal law enforcement officer and violent entry and disorderly conduct on capitol grounds.

Kristina Malimon 

Kristina Malimon, 28, vice chairwoman of the Young Republicans of Oregon, was arrested at the 100 block of First Street NW for unlawful entry and curfew violation, according to the Metropolitan Police Department.

On Wednesday, Malimon posted footage on her Instagram story of President Donald Trump and his family speaking on a stage, including Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump. As the President took the stage, she shared a story with the caption “Our BEST president WILL be in office for four more years!”

Ahead of the riots, Malimon shared encouragement with her more than 25,000 followers on Instagram to join her in protest in the nation’s capitol as the Electoral College gathered to certify Biden’s win.

“We must fight for our BEST President @realdonaldtrump,” Malimon wrote Tuesday on Instagram with a promotional image, along with untrue allegations about the election. “They cheated, but the cheaters were CAUGHT! God is with us, they will NOT have success! Join us in Washington DC Jan 6th!” she continued.

Christopher Alberts

Christopher Alberts, 33, of Maryland, was carrying a loaded Taurus 9mm handgun on Capitol Grounds, according to a police report. Police wrote they encountered Alberts at 7:25 p.m. Wednesday night wearing a bullet-proof vest and carrying a backpack. At first he tried to flee, but police quickly detained him.

He also carried a gas mask, pocket knife, a packaged “meal-ready to eat” and first aid kit. Alberts told police he had the gun for personal protection and did not intend to harm anyone.

Contributing: Nick Penzenstadler, Rachel Axon, Morgan Hines, Katie Wedell, Arizona Republic

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