In a significant development in the investigation into the Jan. 6 attack on the US Capitol, the FBI has announced the arrest of Andy Steven Oliva-Lopez. Oliva-Lopez gained notoriety as the man prominently featured in a Getty photograph depicting a suspect unleashing an orange chemical spray while donning a blue plaid shirt, helmet, and gas mask.

The image captured by a Getty photographer has been widely circulated in news articles over the past three years since the attack, making Oliva-Lopez a familiar face in association with the violent incident. Recently, the photograph was featured in a presentation by U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Matthew Graves and even appeared in an advertisement for Joe Biden's 2024 presidential campaign.

Oliva-Lopez's identification and subsequent arrest came after online "sedition hunters" provided crucial information to the FBI in 2021. Prior to his arrest, his case, like many others, remained unresolved. However, with the statute of limitations set to expire in early 2026, progress in apprehending suspects involved in the Jan. 6 attack becomes ever more vital.

Online sleuths employed facial recognition technology to confirm that Oliva-Lopez, also known as "Blue Plaid Sprayer," attended a pro-Trump "American Lives Matter" rally at the Oregon State Capitol in September 2020. In addition, they discovered a Twitter account associated with the suspect under the handle "Primal American." This account frequently shared pro-Trump messages, including unsubstantiated claims of election victory and support for a potential civil war.

Since the Capitol attack, Oliva-Lopez has been reportedly working as a general contractor in the Portland area. Social media posts reveal him boasting about his everyday activities, including working on projects such as bathrooms, decks, driveways, and fences. Photographs of his post-Jan. 6 adventures, such as a ski trip to Aspen, Colorado, drew ire from online sleuths who felt he should be held accountable for his alleged role in assaulting officers.

Oliva-Lopez's arrest comes shortly after the FBI apprehended another suspect involved in the attack. Just a day prior, a Louisiana man, who stands accused of attacking law enforcement at the Capitol's lower west tunnel, was taken into custody.

Since the Jan. 6 assault, law enforcement authorities have made significant progress in arresting and convicting perpetrators. Over 1,200 individuals have been arrested in connection with the Capitol attack, resulting in approximately 900 convictions on charges that range from unlawful picketing to seditious conspiracy. Notably, the former leader of the far-right Proud Boys, Enrique Tarrio, received the longest sentence of 22 years in federal prison.

The arrest of Andy Steven Oliva-Lopez marks another step toward justice for the perpetrators of the Jan. 6 attack. As investigations continue and trials proceed, law enforcement remains committed to holding those responsible accountable for their actions on that fateful day.