The FBI’s Pittsburgh field office is investigating a “targeted attack” that happened early on Wednesday, Sept. 17.
“At about 2:40 a.m., someone driving a white sedan rammed one of the vehicle entrance gates at FBI Pittsburgh,” authorities wrote on social media. “The person got out, took an American flag from the backseat, and threw it onto the damaged gate. Then they left on foot.”
Investigators identified the person as Donald Henson, a resident of Penn Hills, Penn., a township east of Pittsburgh.
Noting that “No FBI personnel were injured,” the agency said, “This incident is considered a targeted attack against the FBI.”
FBI Pittsburgh Public Affairs Specialist Bradford Arick told PEOPLE, “This is not an official terrorism investigation. This is a targeted attack directed at FBI Pittsburgh.”
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Arick confirmed that Henson is still at large.
“The public should avoid this individual. If you see him, call 911, call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI, or make a report online at tips.fbi.gov,” FBI Pittsburgh said.
Arick did not explain why the field office calls this a “targeted attack” instead of a terrorism incident, but added, “There was some messaging on the vehicle itself, but it’s not clear if it’s connected to the incident.”
FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Giordano said in a press conference that Henson’s act “is a federal offense, and we will be seeking prosecution to the fullest extent.”
While the suspect is still at large, Giordano said, “We don’t have any indication that he is armed. We do believe he has a mental health problem and a history of mental health issues, so we consider him dangerous.”
Giordano also said Henson is believed to be a “former military member.”
Henson had visited the FBI Pittsburgh offices in recent weeks with undisclosed claims.
“In checking our records, we found him. He came to the FBI field offices a few weeks ago to make a complaint that didn’t make a lot of sense,” Giordano said. “We looked into everything he brought in. It didn’t have a federal connection. We contacted him and explained that there was no federal crime we could charge.”
Even though Arick told PEOPLE this is “not an official terrorism investigation,” Giordano said in his press conference, “We look at this as an act of terror against the FBI.”
