Far-right activist Nick Fuentes claimed Thursday that he was the target of a “would-be assassin” who was fatally shot by police near his Berwyn, Illinois home. The man, identified as 24-year-old John R. Lyons of Westchester, allegedly committed a triple homicide in Mahomet, Illinois before arriving at Fuentes’ residence. Fuentes, known for his racist, sexist, and antisemitic views, shared surveillance footage appearing to show Lyons approaching his home with a handgun and crossbow. Berwyn police confirmed responding to a call about a person with a gun at approximately 11:40 p.m. Wednesday. After Lyons allegedly killed two dogs and disobeyed police commands, officers returned fire, killing him.
This incident occurred just one day before Fuentes’ first court appearance on a battery charge stemming from a November 10th incident. Fuentes is accused of pepper-spraying 57-year-old Marla Rose, who confronted him at his home after his address was leaked online following a controversial social media post. Rose’s account of the incident, corroborated by a witness, alleges that Fuentes pepper-sprayed and pushed her down his front steps. Fuentes, while acknowledging pushing Rose in a 911 call, claimed self-defense due to ongoing harassment and death threats. Body camera footage shows Rose calling Fuentes a “white supremacist” during her report to police, a label Fuentes denied. The officer noted the sensitive political climate and Fuentes’ claim that he feared for his life due to online doxing.
Fuentes’ court appearance, conducted remotely due to “potential security concerns,” resulted in a judge ordering him not to contact Rose and setting a January 16th status hearing. Following the hearing, Fuentes, citing the leaked address, announced his intention to move and requested cryptocurrency donations for private security and a new streaming studio. He condemned the incident as “nihilistic lynch mob behavior.”