Case Against Man Charged In Paintball Attack Moves Forward

WAUKESHA COUNTY, WI—A Waukesha County man who is believed to be a QAnon supporter and was charged after firing a paintball gun at Army reservists at the U.S. Army Reserve Center in Pewaukee, appeared virtually before Federal Magistrate Judge on Wednesday for a preliminary hearing. The court found probable cause for the case to continue, according to online court records.

Ian Alan Olson, 31, of Nashotah was charged in federal court in March with attacking U.S. servicemen on account of their service and assaulting officers.

Olson was earlier charged in Waukesha County Circuit Court with two misdemeanor counts of attempted battery and one count of disorderly conduct.

A $2,500 signature bond was set, according to online court documents.

His next court date in Waukesha is May 24, a court date in federal court hasn't been set as of Thursday morning.

According to a Fox 6 report, federal terrorism investigators are interesting in learning more about the Nashotah man's background.

Investigators are seeking to search Olson’s cell phone, three memory cards and a digital camera to uncover what he was doing in Pewaukee and Washington D.C. They are also investigating who he may have spoke with or traveled with, according the report.

Olson drove a car spray-painted with QAnon slogans to the reserve center, according to a criminal complaint. He shouted, "This is for America," before shooting paintball rounds, the complaint said. After he shot the paintballs, Olson's gun appeared to jam and he yelled "You're lucky it jammed," the complaint said.

At that point, the reservists tackled Olson to the ground and held him until police arrived, the complaint said.

Olson told officials while in custody that he had just returned from Washington, where he attempted to deliver a message, the complaint said. Olson on March 3 told a National Guardsman that he was "maybe going to do something crazy stupid tomorrow" and asked them not to shoot him, the complaint said, citing U.S. Capitol Police.

Olson said he would cause a "mass casualty" event and that people would remember his name, the complaint said. "I am ready for this. How many people need to die for a message to get across?" he said, according to the complaint.

Reporting and writing from The Associated Press was used in this report.