Rockville Man Sought To Kill Trump Official In VA: Police

ROCKVILLE, MD — Colin Demarco, a 26-year-old from Rockville, is being held in a Northern Virginia jail after being charged with attempted murder in connection with a plot to attack a high-profile government official, police said.

Virginia court records show Demarco faces one count each of first-degree attempted murder, solicitation of adult murder, wearing masks in certain places and carrying a concealed firearm.

He was arrested Jan. 16 and extradited to Virginia, where he is being held without bond at the Arlington County Detention Facility, authorities said.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Feb. 23, court records show.

The Arlington County Police Department said the case dates back to Aug. 10, when officers responded to a report of a suspicious person standing on the porch of a home in the 3800 block of 7th Street South at about 3:15 p.m.

At the time, a witness reported seeing a person, since identified as Demarco, wearing a surgical mask, rubber gloves, a backpack and hiding what appeared to be a firearm under his shirt.

The witness, who alerted police, said Demarco later asked them about the person who lived at the home before leaving the area.

Although Arlington police did not see Demarco when officers arrived at the scene, the incident was captured on home surveillance footage.

CBS News, which was first to report the arrest, said Demarco was at the home of Russell Vought, the director of the federal Office of Management and Budget. The outlet cited anonymous sources familiar with the case in their reporting that Vought was Demarco's target.

Public records show Vought owns a single-family home in the Alcova Heights neighborhood of Arlington.

Arlington police said their investigation turned up digital evidence showing Demarco had in his possession directions to Vought's home, details about firearms owned by relatives of Vought and a guide on how to avoid being caught by police.

An online search by investigators also turned up a posting in which Demarco discussed Vought and appeared to solicit others to murder him.

Police did not specify but said the solicitation took place "days" before Demarco showed up at the Arlington home.

CBS reported that Vought came under Demarco's attention over his fears of an "impending war," and that the federal government was coming under a "fascist takeover" after President Donald Trump was elected in 2024.

Over the last year, Vought's office was at the helm of massive federal workforce reductions, which had a widespread impact across D.C., Maryland and Virginia.

A spokesperson for OMB told CBS that the department was "grateful for the work of law enforcement in keeping Director Vought and his family safe."

Anyone with knowledge of the case that may assist in the investigation is urged to contact the Arlington County Police Department's Tip Line by email or phone at (703) 228-4180. Information can be anonymously reported by calling 1-866-411-8477.