WASHINGTON — Two Texas men were arrested Monday and charged in connection to the U.S. Capitol riot on Jan. 6. 

What You Need To Know

  • Donald Hazard and Lucas Denney are charged with engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds, civil disorder, obstructing an official proceeding and assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers with a dangerous weapon or resulting in bodily injury

  • According to court documents, Denney used social media to recruit members to join his militia group, called the Patriot Boys of North Texas and travel with him to Washington, D.C. on Jan. 6

  • As early as Dec. 25, 2020, Denney and Hazard were exchanging plans to go to Washington. Hazard also attempted to recruit others to join Denney’s militia

  • Both Hazard and Denney remain detained pending further proceedings

Donald Hazard, 43, of Hurst, Texas, and Lucas Denney, 44, of Mansfield, Texas, are charged with engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds, civil disorder, obstructing an official proceeding and assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers with a dangerous weapon or resulting in bodily injury, among other charges. Hazard was arrested in Hurst, Texas, and Denney was arrested in the Brackettville, Texas, area. 

According to court documents, throughout December 2020, Denney used social media and other means to recruit members to join his militia group, called the Patriot Boys of North Texas, and travel with him to Washington, D.C. on Jan. 6. On Dec. 30, he attempted to use Facebook to post a photograph headlined, “Occupy Congress.” This post appeared to have been removed by Facebook that same day. As early as Dec. 25, 2020, he and Hazard were exchanging plans to go to Washington. Hazard also attempted to recruit others to join Denney’s militia.

On Jan. 6, according to the court documents, at approximately 2:10 p.m., Denney and Hazard, outfitted in tactical gear, were positioned on the west side of the Capitol building. They joined other rioters in yelling at police officers guarding the building. Hazard made his way to the hallway near the Parliamentarian Door,  briefly entered the Parliamentarian’s office, then continued making his way through into the building. After several minutes, officers began to corral the crowd back towards the Parliamentarian Door. Footage depicts Hazard grappling with U.S. Capitol Police officers as he fell down a set of stairs under a scaffolding erected on the west side of the Capitol building. Hazard fought with one officer and they both fell over. The officer was knocked unconscious and sustained injuries to his head, foot and arm.

Meanwhile, Denney grabbed and shoved a police officer at approximately 2:14 p.m. Minutes later, he attempted to grab a canister of crowd-control spray away from another officer. Then he picked up a long metal pole from the ground, which he swung at that officer. Denney and another rioter grabbed what appeared to be a large tube and launched it toward the line of law enforcement officers guarding the west side of the Capitol building. He then relocated to the vicinity of the Lower West Terrace of the Capitol building. He entered the tunnel leading into the building, carrying what appears to be a baton or stick. Denney participated in “heave-ho” efforts to advance into the building. At one point, on the steps leading up to the Capitol building, he swung his arm and fist at an officer, pulling the officer further down the stairs outside the building.

Hazard made his initial court appearance Tuesday in the Northern District of Texas. Denney made his initial appearance Tuesday in the Western District of Texas. Both Hazard and Denney remain detained pending further proceedings.

In the 11 months since Jan. 6, more than 700 people have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including over 220 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement. The investigation remains ongoing.