Virginia Beach Brothers Arrested in Plot to Kill Officers

Two brothers from Virginia Beach, including a high school assistant principal, were arrested on November 19 after an off-duty police officer overheard them discussing plans to kill police officers and Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, federal authorities said.

John Wilson Bennett, 45, who has served as assistant principal at Kempsville High School since 2009, and his brother Mark Booth Bennett, 47, were charged with conspiracy to commit malicious wounding. The incident began on November 17 when the off-duty Norfolk police officer overheard the men at a restaurant in Virginia Beach. According to a Department of Homeland Security statement, the brothers spoke about targeting law enforcement, with Mark Bennett allegedly expressing intentions to travel to Las Vegas to meet like-minded individuals and acquire firearms equipped with explosive rounds. Officials said the plan included obtaining high-caliber rifles capable of penetrating bulletproof vests to maximize harm against ICE agents.

The conversation reportedly stemmed from grievances over immigration enforcement actions, with the men claiming ICE agents were kidnapping individuals. Mark Bennett was arrested two days...