Frostburg, MD — Authorities apprehended three individuals associated with the Zizians, a group implicated in a series of violent acts including the slaying of a U.S. Border Patrol agent. The leader, Jack “Ziz” LaSota, 34, along with Michelle Zajko, 32, and Daniel Blank, 26, were arrested on charges of illegal possession of firearms and resisting arrest.
On Sunday, local law enforcement responded to a Frostburg resident’s complaint about suspicious activities. The resident reported that three individuals had parked their box trucks on his property without permission and requested to camp there for a month. Upon investigating, police found the trucks in a secluded wooded area near the Maryland-Pennsylvania border. Officers noted that two of the suspects were armed and dressed in black tactical gear.
During the arrest, Zajko resisted and was subsequently subdued and charged with resisting arrest and unlawfully carrying a handgun. In one of the trucks, police discovered a rifle and a handgun placed conspicuously on the front floorboard. LaSota faced additional charges for having a firearm in the vehicle.
The investigation became more complex as it tied the suspects to the recent shooting death of Border Patrol Agent Chris Maland, 44, during a traffic stop in Coventry, Vermont. Prosecutors indicated that firearms purchased by Zajko were linked to this incident.
In a subsequent court appearance, an Allegany District Court judge denied bail for LaSota, citing the suspect’s potential danger to public safety and risk of fleeing. Prosecutors described LaSota as the head of the Zizians, an extremist faction with a history of violence and radical beliefs.
LaSota, originally from Alaska, transitioned to California after studying computer science at the University of Fairbanks and securing an internship at NASA. It was in California where LaSota, under the pseudonym “Ziz,” began blogging about controversial and often violent theories rooted in gender and cognitive duality. These writings also criticized rationalist groups dedicated to understanding human thinking through logic and scientific inquiry.
According to sources, the Zizians consist mainly of young computer scientists sharing anarchist ideals, who have rallied around LaSota’s divisive rhetoric. The group’s activities sparked concerns as they reportedly escalated from online dialogues to physical confrontations. In a notable 2019 incident, LaSota and other Zizians disrupted a rationalist alumni retreat, confrontationally distributing flyers accusing the organizers of discriminatory practices.
Despite no clear evidence of a cohesive ideological goal, the group’s actions, as detailed by investigators, suggest a pattern of escalating aggression and radicalization. These incidents have led to at least six homicides linked to the group, involving complex interrelations among its members across several states.
The tragedy of the Vermont shooting, which occurred less than a mile from the Canadian border, typifies the group’s violent tendencies. Theresa Youngblut, implicated in the episode, engaged officers unexpectedly during what appeared to be a routine traffic stop. The confrontation ended tragically with Agent Maland’s death and resulted in Youngblut facing federal firearms charges.
Further investigations have traced numerous former and active Zizian members across multiple states, revealing an intricate web of associations and a concerning potential for further incidents. This ongoing inquiry has strained local and federal law enforcement resources as they endeavor to piece together the various activities and plans of this obscure and dangerous group.
While the suspects await trial without bail, their arrest has prompted a broader examination of the mechanisms by which such extremist groups cultivate influence and operationalize their radical ideologies. As the case progresses, law enforcement continues to probe the depth of the Zizians’ network and prevent potential future violence associated with their activities.