Vandal Strikes JD Vance’s Ohio Home, Suspect in Custody
A 27-year-old Columbus man is in custody after allegedly causing $18,000 in damage to Vice President JD Vance’s Ohio residence while the family was away.
Quiet Suburb Shaken by Early-Morning Incident
CINCINNATI—Neighbors on the tree-lined cul-de-sac were still rubbing sleep from their eyes when a metallic crash echoed across the Vice President’s front lawn shortly after 3 a.m. Tuesday.
Within minutes, Secret Service agents swarmed the property while local cruisers blocked the street. A 27-year-old Columbus man—identified in court records as Elijah M. Cross—was detained at the scene and later charged with felony vandalism and trespassing on a restricted residence.
What Was Damaged
- Two limestone planters flanking the driveway were toppled and shattered.
- A security camera housing was pried loose and smashed against the porch railing.
- A brass mailbox, engraved with the Vance family crest, was dented beyond repair.
Agents estimate the damage at roughly $18,000—well above the state’s felony threshold.
Inside the Criminal Complaint
“The suspect stated he believed the Vice President ‘needed to feel what real people are going through,’ according to the affidavit filed by Hamilton County prosecutors.
Cross, who has no prior violent offenses, was found carrying a crowbar and a can of white spray paint. Investigators say he never breached the home’s front door, which is reinforced with ballistic steel.
Political Reaction
Governor Mike DeWine called the act “unacceptable political intimidation,” while Senate Majority Leader Shannon Burns urged Ohioans to “disagree without destruction.”
Neither Vice President Vance nor his wife, Usha, were on the property; they are traveling in Asia for a trade mission. Their three children remain under Secret Service supervision at an undisclosed location.
Security Review Underway
The Department of Homeland Security has opened an internal review to determine how the suspect scaled the perimeter fence without triggering motion sensors. Neighbors tell Storyteller reporters that construction crews installed taller fencing just six weeks ago.
Cross is being held on $75,000 bond and is due in court next Monday. If convicted, he faces up to three years in prison.