Executive Summary
- John Wilson Bennett, a Virginia Beach assistant principal, and his brother Mark Booth Bennett were arrested for allegedly plotting to kill ICE agents.
- The investigation began after an off-duty police officer overheard the suspects discussing the acquisition of weapons and explosive rounds.
- Mark Bennett was intercepted at Norfolk International Airport while allegedly en route to Las Vegas to obtain firearms.
- DHS officials report a sharp increase in threats and assaults against immigration enforcement officers nationwide.
A Virginia high school administrator and his brother have been taken into custody following a joint investigation into an alleged conspiracy to assassinate Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and local police officers. Authorities confirmed the arrests of John Wilson Bennett and Mark Booth Bennett on Wednesday, charging both men with conspiracy to commit malicious wounding under Virginia state law.
According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the investigation commenced on November 17 after an off-duty Norfolk police officer overheard the brothers discussing plans to “kill police officers and ICE agents.” John Wilson Bennett has served as an assistant principal at Kempsville High School in Virginia Beach since 2009. His brother, Mark Booth Bennett, was allegedly overheard discussing logistics for the attack, including a trip to Las Vegas to acquire firearms equipped with explosive rounds intended to penetrate law enforcement body armor.
Law enforcement officials executed the arrests on November 19. Mark Bennett was apprehended at Norfolk International Airport as he attempted to board a flight to Charlotte, North Carolina, with an intended final destination of Las Vegas. John Bennett was arrested separately in Virginia Beach on the same day. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin described the specifics of the plot as “chilling,” particularly noting the involvement of a public educator in an alleged scheme to ambush federal officers.
The DHS indicated that the arrests occurred amidst a statistical surge in violence directed at federal immigration enforcement. In an official statement, McLaughlin noted that ICE officers have faced a 1,150% increase in assaults and an 8,000% increase in death threats compared to previous periods. Authorities cited recent incidents, including a solicitation for murder on social media by a Dallas resident and a shooting at an ICE-contracted facility in July, as evidence of the heightened threat environment.
Federal Safety Implications
The alleged conspiracy involving the Bennett brothers underscores a growing operational challenge for federal law enforcement agencies, particularly regarding the security of personnel off-duty and the interception of domestic threats. The drastic rise in reported threats against ICE agents suggests a shifting security landscape that may necessitate revised protective protocols for agents and increased inter-agency cooperation similar to the joint effort displayed by Norfolk Police and Homeland Security Investigations in this case. As proceedings move forward, the judicial system will evaluate the evidence regarding the intent and capability of the accused. It is important to note that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
