John Caleb Allen, 26, of Bristol, Florida, has been indicted on several federal charges following his arrest on July 24, 2025. The indictment includes two counts of attempted murder of a federal employee, two counts of assault with a deadly weapon on a federal law enforcement officer, two counts of discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, two counts of illegal possession of a machine gun, and one count of making a false statement to a federal firearm licensee regarding the purchase of firearms. The announcement was made by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
According to court documents, agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), assisted by the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office, were executing a federal search warrant at Allen’s residence when he allegedly opened fire on law enforcement officers. Multiple rounds were fired at the agents before Allen was arrested without any shots being returned by law enforcement. Agents sustained minor injuries during the incident.
Allen is scheduled for arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Martin A. Fitzpatrick on August 8, 2025 at 11:30 a.m., at the Federal Courthouse in Tallahassee.
If convicted on all charges, Allen could face up to life in prison.
The case is under investigation by the ATF, Liberty County Sheriff’s Office and Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain is prosecuting.
“An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.”
This prosecution falls under Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline ), an initiative designed to address violent crime and organized criminal activity nationwide by coordinating resources from various Department of Justice programs including OCDETFs and Project Safe Neighborhoods.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida operates as one among 94 offices serving as principal litigators for the nation under guidance from the Attorney General. Additional information about this office can be found at http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
