Jan. 6 defendant fired on deputies ahead of expected arrest, court records show

A Jan. 6 defendant wanted on misdemeanor charges opened fire at sheriff’s deputies last week as they checked on him ahead of his expected arrest, leading to a lengthy standoff, according to newly unsealed court filings.

Deputies from the Dallas-area Hunt County Sheriff’s Office indicated that they were dispatched to the home of Nathan Pelham on April 12 for a “wellness check” after his father warned he was a suicide risk and possessed a gun. After trying to coax Pelham to stand down for hours, sheriff’s deputies and the FBI were unable to arrest him that day. He was instead arrested on Monday on the Jan. 6 charges, then formally rearrested on Tuesday on a firearms charge while already in custody.

Prior to the standoff, Pelham faced charges for his role in the Jan. 6 breach of the Capitol. Charging documents in that matter depict Pelham wearing goggles and a neck gaiter before entering the Capitol for about seven minutes on Jan. 6, 2021. Two months later, he was stopped at the Canadian border in Michigan and admitted to authorities that he had been in the Capitol.

Now, Pelham is facing a felony charge that could result in years of jail time for allegedly firing a 9mm pistol in the direction of deputies.

The sheriff’s deputies indicated that when they arrived at his house, Pelham sent his young daughter outside before he began firing gunshots.

“After putting the child in the patrol car, Deputy J.W. heard gunshots coming from inside the residence,” according to the newly revealed charging documents. “Deputy J.W. reported that the gunshots were spread out in time and that they were not towards the HCSO personnel. Deputy J.W. moved his patrol car away from the front of the residence for additional safety.”

The deputy who first said he shielded Pelham’s daughter arrived at about 8:40 p.m. An hour later, according to the filings, Pelham’s father arrived on the scene and another shot was fired.

“[T]he bullet from this gunshot came in so close proximity to myself that I could hear the distinct whistling sound as the bullet traveled by me and then strike a metal object to my right side,” one of the deputies, identified only as J.W., reported.

An FBI agent arrived on the scene at about 10:40 p.m. to help put Pelham under arrest. He said he heard another six to seven gunshots fired.

The court documents indicate that Pelham has a 2003 Texas felony conviction, which barred him from being in possession of a firearm.