Justice Department Seeks Forfeiture Of Property Used In Attacks On Planned Parenthood And Federal Building

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — On Sept. 26, 2022, the Justice Department filed a civil complaint seeking the forfeiture of a sedan, a pickup truck, and one firearm alleged to have been utilized in a series of attacks by Mark Thomas Reno, formerly of Jefferson City, Tennessee.

According to court documents, it is alleged that on Jan. 22, 2021, Reno utilized a sedan and a shotgun to fire an incendiary round into the entrance to the Planned Parenthood – Knoxville, Tennessee, Health Center (the Center); on Dec 31, 2021, Reno utilized a pickup truck to set fire to the Center, resulting in the Center burning down; on June 18, 2022, Reno utilized the same pickup truck and a .22 caliber rifle with an illegal suppressor to shoot the windows at the John J. Duncan Federal Office Building in downtown Knoxville; and again on July 3, 2022, Reno utilized the same sedan and the same .22 caliber rifle to shoot the windows at the John J. Duncan Federal Office Building in Knoxville.  The complaint seeks the forfeiture of both vehicles and the firearm used during the shootings on June 18, 2022, and July 3, 2022.

The FBI arrested Reno on July 18, 2022. He was released from custody for health reasons on Aug. 14, 2022, and passed away on Aug. 15, 2022.

Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III for the Eastern District of Tennessee announced the complaint.

The FBI, ATF and U.S. Marshals Service investigated the criminal case, with substantial assistance from the Knoxville Fire Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Casey T. Arrowood for the Eastern District of Tennessee and Trial Attorney Kyle Boynton of the Criminal Section of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division prosecuted the criminal case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Arrowood is representing the United States in the civil forfeiture action.

The claims made in the civil complaint are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.

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