In the early hours of January 5, 2026, a quiet Cincinnati neighborhood was jolted awake by the sounds of shattering glass and police sirens outside the home of Vice President JD Vance. The stately, 157-year-old white two-story house in East Walnut Hills—normally a symbol of historic charm—became the scene of a dramatic incident that has since drawn national attention and raised questions about security, mental health, and the pressures faced by public officials and their families.
According to reports from USA Today and WXIX, police and U.S. Secret Service agents apprehended 26-year-old William Defoor, a resident of Hyde Park, after he allegedly ran up to Vance’s home on William Howard Taft Drive and broke four windows with a hammer. The incident, which occurred shortly after midnight, also involved damage to a vehicle owned by the Secret Service. Surveillance footage captured Defoor on the property, and a Secret Service agent witnessed the act firsthand. When the agent confronted him, Defoor fled the scene, prompting the Secret Service to request backup from Cincinnati police at 12:15 a.m. Defoor was detained soon after and booked into the Hamilton County Justice Center.
Vice President Vance and his family were not in Ohio at the time of the attack. A spokesperson confirmed to USA Today that the family had visited Cincinnati over the weekend but had returned to Washington, D.C. before the incident. On social media, Vance addressed the situation directly, writing, “As far as I can tell, a crazy person tried to break in by hammering the windows. I’m grateful to the secret service and the Cincinnati police for responding quickly. We weren’t even home, as we had returned already to DC.” He added a heartfelt request: “One request to the media: we try to protect our kids as much as possible from the realities of this life of public service. In that light, I am skeptical of the news value of plastering images of our home with holes in the windows.” (WCPO)
The U.S. Secret Service issued a statement saying, “The U.S. Secret Service is coordinating with the Cincinnati Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office as charging decisions are reviewed.” The agency is also considering whether federal charges may be warranted, according to Anthony Guglielmi, chief of communications for the Secret Service. Defoor is currently being interviewed by Secret Service agents, and the agency will present its findings to the U.S. Attorney for potential federal prosecution (WCPO).
Defoor faces a litany of charges: one count of obstructing official business (a second-degree misdemeanor), one count of criminal damaging or endangering (second-degree misdemeanor), one count of criminal trespass (fourth-degree misdemeanor), and one count of vandalism (fifth-degree felony), as reported by WXIX and USA Today. His arraignment in Hamilton County Municipal Court is scheduled for Tuesday, January 6, 2026. Given Defoor’s criminal history, investigators have recommended a high bond.
This is not Defoor’s first encounter with the law. Court records show a pattern of vandalism and trespassing. In April 2025, he pleaded guilty to two counts of vandalism after causing over $2,000 in damages to a Hyde Park interior design company. As part of his sentence, Defoor was ordered to undergo two years of treatment at a mental health facility and pay $5,550 in restitution. His prior record also includes a vandalism charge in 2024 for breaking windows at a Hyde Park business, which was referred to a mental health docket and resulted in “treatment in lieu of conviction.” In 2023, Defoor was charged with trespassing at the UC Health psychiatric emergency services and was found incompetent to stand trial, with the case referred to Hamilton County Probate Court (USA Today).
On the night of the attack, roads around the Vance residence had only recently reopened. The City of Cincinnati had previously closed streets in the area for several days around New Year’s Day, a precaution typically taken when the vice president or his family is present. Those barricades were lifted by Sunday afternoon, January 4, 2026, and were not in place at the time of the incident (USA Today).
The Vance home, purchased for $1.4 million in 2018 according to Hamilton County property records, sits on a busy stretch of road in East Walnut Hills. Its historic character and prominent location have made it a local landmark, but also a potential target. On Monday morning, local news crews observed several officers from both the Cincinnati Police Department and the Secret Service searching the property, with broken windows clearly visible. Secret Service agents reported hearing a loud noise around midnight and discovered Defoor attempting to break in with a hammer. The Associated Press noted that Defoor also damaged a Secret Service vehicle as he approached the house.
While the Vance family was spared any direct danger thanks to their absence, the incident has raised broader concerns. Security for high-profile public officials is always a delicate balance between necessary protection and maintaining some semblance of normalcy for their families. Vance’s social media plea for privacy highlights the personal toll that such events can take, especially on children who never signed up for the public scrutiny that accompanies political life.
The case also underscores the complex intersection of criminal justice and mental health. Defoor’s repeated involvement with the legal system, combined with ongoing mental health treatment, points to systemic challenges in addressing the root causes of such behavior. The use of mental health dockets and diversion programs, as seen in Defoor’s prior cases, reflects a growing recognition that treatment, rather than punishment, may be more effective in certain situations. Yet, the recurring nature of these incidents raises difficult questions about the adequacy of such interventions and the resources available to those struggling with mental illness.
For now, the immediate response from law enforcement has been widely praised. Vance himself expressed gratitude for their swift action, and local officials have reassured the public that all necessary steps are being taken to ensure the safety of the vice president and his family. As the legal process unfolds, attention will likely turn to both the prosecution of Defoor and the ongoing debate about how best to protect public figures—and the communities in which they live—without sacrificing the openness that is a hallmark of American democracy.
The events at JD Vance’s Cincinnati home serve as a stark reminder of the unpredictable challenges faced by those in public service and the persistent need for vigilance, compassion, and thoughtful policy in confronting the intertwined issues of security and mental health.
