A high school assistant principal and his brother have been arrested for allegedly having a conversation about wanting to meet with “like-minded individuals” and coordinate attacks against local law enforcement and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers. “Mark Bennett, 59, and John Bennett, 54, were arrested at Norfolk International Airport on Wednesday around 9:40 a.m. and 10:50 a.m., respectively, with the help of airport police,” WTKR reports. Both have been charged with one count of conspiracy to commit malicious wounding. “Great job to the @VBPD for placing these SICKOS in custody,” the Rapid Response 47 X account stated. “Democrats have unleashed a left-wing terror movement that must be stopped,” it added. Two Virginia men — an assistant principal at a local high school and his brother — were arrested for plotting to shoot @ICEgov agents. Great job to the @VBPD for placing these SICKOS in custody. Democrats have unleashed a left-wing terror movement that must be stopped. pic.twitter.com/yqXJ3yiXA3 — Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) November 20, 2025 WTKR shared more: On Saturday, Nov. 15, an off-duty Norfolk police officer was having lunch at a Virginia Beach restaurant at the same time as the Bennetts, the complaint says. The officer claims he overheard the brothers talking about “how ICE agents are kidnapping individuals and that they needed to do something about it.” During the conversation, Mark Bennett allegedly told his brother he was going to fly to Las Vegas to meet with likeminded people and return with “enforcement ideas and plans.” He also said he recently bought an assault rifle, the complaint states, because “it utilizes the explosive rounds that are needed to penetrate the vests.” John Bennett said he wanted to “go hunting,” as alleged in the complaint, and expressed interest in going with his brother to Las Vegas. The complaint states Mark Bennett bought a ticket to fly to Vegas on Wednesday, Nov. 19 — the day he and his brother were arrested at Norfolk International Airport. Both men were granted $25,000 bond on Thursday and are not allowed to have contact with each other. The arrests come amid a substantial increase in threats against federal immigration enforcement agents. “Our ICE law enforcement is now facing an 8,000% increase in death threats against them,” the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) previously stated. NO RETREAT! Our ICE law enforcement is now facing an 8,000% increase in death threats against them.@POTUS Trump and @Sec_Noem have their backs. These anarchists will fail. The fight to secure America’s culture, people, and values is only just beginning.@MicahBock pic.twitter.com/5BaYPEdyJz — Homeland Security (@DHSgov) November 9, 2025 More from WAVY: Both will be monitored by GPS and are being represented by different lawyers, who maintain they were just two brothers having a conversation and joking around. The defense also claimed that the trip to Vegas mentioned by Mark Bennett was a previously planned trip to an F1 race with his son. “These allegations of violence against law enforcement, the very ones who protect and serve our communities, are incredibly alarming,” said Chief Paul W. Neudigate. “We are grateful this information was brought to our attention. VBPD was able to work with various law enforcement agencies to assess the credibility of the information, leading to today’s arrests ensuring the safety of both our law enforcement community and the public at large.” John Bennett is one the assistant principals at Kempsville High School in Virginia Beach. School officials say he has been employed with the division since 2009 but is now on leave. Both brothers are set for preliminary hearings on Jan. 23 at 8:30 a.m.