Record at a Glance
- Category
- Jan 6th
- Age in NPR record
- 55
- Location
- Fishersville, Virginia
- Charges
- Assaulting, Resisting, or Impeding Certain Officers Using a Dangerous Weapon; Inflicting Bodily Injury on Certain Officers; Assaulting, Resisting, or Impeding Certain Officers; Civil Disorder; Entering and Remaining in a Restricted Building or Grounds with a Deadly or Dangerous Weapon; Disorderly and Disruptive Conduct in a Restricted Building or Grounds with a Deadly or Dangerous Weapon; Engaging in Physical Violence in a Restricted Building or Grounds with a Deadly or Dangerous Weapon; Disorderly Conduct in a Capitol Building; Act of Physical Violence in the Capitol Grounds or Buildings
- Case status
- Pleaded not guilty; Dismissed in part or full
Case Summary
Jeffrey McKellop, a military contractor and retired U.S. Army Special Forces soldier, is accused of attacking several police officers and jabbing one officer in the face with a flagpole during the Jan. 6, 2021, riot. Federal prosecutors allege McKellop can be seen in multiple videos from that day wearing a gas mask and helmet, fighting with a line of police officers guarding the U.S. Capitol and trying to grab their pepper spray. McKellop was identified by a couple of tipsters, including one who claimed they served with him and recognized the military "kit" he was wearing during the riot. The witness said the kit included a helmet and ballistic vest which resembled what he wore "in an overseas combat zone in 2018," according to the criminal complaint. In one video, a patch that is a symbol of the U.S. Army Special Forces can also be seen on McKellop’s backpack. According to McKellop's memorandum in opposition to pre-trial detention, he served in the Army for more than two decades and spent nine years of that time in the Special Forces. McKellop honorably retired in 2010, with 3 Bronze Stars and a Meritorious Service Award.
Case History
McKellop pleaded Not Guilty to all charges. On 1/21/2025, the court grants the government’s motion to dismiss the case with prejudice
Sources
- Primary Documentation
NPR Jan. 6 Defendant DatabaseNPR - Primary Documentation
Underlying court recordCourt record linked by NPR - Supporting Reporting
NPR video evidence pageNPR
Case summary, charges, procedural updates and image are drawn from the NPR Jan. 6 archive snapshot dated 2026-09-25 unless otherwise indicated.