Shelbyville man charged in Capitol riot told federal agents: 'I may go down as a hero'
A loaded revolver dropped at the feet of a Capitol police officer Jan. 6.
For weeks, federal agents traced the firearm — stocked with five rounds — which led them to a Shelbyville man. But when law enforcement agents traveled from Washington D.C. to the man's home in Shelby County, the 56-year-old gun owner was prepared.
He already warned his kids if Capitol police came to his doorstep, he’d surrender.
"They can have me," he said. "Because I may go down as a hero."
Mark Andrew Mazza is facing federal charges of illegal possession of a firearm on Capitol grounds, civil disorder, and assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers with a dangerous weapon after police recovered his gun from Capitol grounds and video footage showed him swinging a baton at police, according to the FBI.
Court records show how federal agents and Capitol police built a case against Mazza.
A Capitol Police sergeant recovered the gun while fending off people trying to break through the West Front Terrace that day. The officer in court records said the gun fell from the waistband of a man who pushed him backwards while trying to force his way into the building.
The Taurus revolver contained two hollow-point rounds and three shotgun shells – which are typically intended to be used against “multiple targets” at the same time, investigators said in court documents.
Mazza, meanwhile, reported to Shelbyville police two days after the Capitol riot that the gun was stolen from his car at a Hard Rock Casino in Cincinnati.
Video footage detailed in court documents also show Mazza held Capitol doors open as rioters entered the building. Then, baton in hand, he swung at police and yelled “This is our (expletive) house. We own this house.”
After linking the gun and video footage stills to Mazza, agents traveled to his Shelbyville home. Court records state Mazza told the agents he participated in the “Stop the Steal” rally but tried to stop people from breaking windows.
“We don’t loot,” he told the agents.
Mazza said he left the riot when police began to unleash pepper spray at the crowd, and that’s when he felt his gun fell.
He falsely reported his gun as stolen, Mazza said, in case Antifa found it and someone got killed, all while his name was linked to the gun. He denied harming police.
Mazza concluded the interview by saying he’s a nonviolent patriot.
He then requested if agents do return to arrest him, they place him in a “fed,” because he wants "three squares, a nice clean room" and health care.
Agents arrested Mazza in his Shelbyville home this week, marking him as the ninth Hoosier to face charges in the insurrection. Mazza appeared in court for the first time Thursday. The U.S. judge withheld his bond.
Contact Sarah Nelson at sarah.nelson@indystar.com or 317-503-7514.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Shelbyville man arrested in Capitol riot after reporting gun stolen
