Update 1:35 a.m. From the Associated Press:
Police say four people died as Trump supporters occupied the Capitol. One woman was shot by the U.S. Capitol police as a mob tried to break through a barricaded door, and three died in medical emergencies.https://t.co/nsSrZ5IEmx
— The Associated Press (@AP) January 7, 2021
Update 9:23 p.m. ET: KUSI has identified the identity of the woman shot at the Capitol on Wednesday as Ashli Babbit after speaking with her husband.
The woman is Ashli Babbit, a 14-year veteran, who served four tours with the US Air Force, and was a high level security official throughout her time in service.
Her husband says she was a strong supporter of President Trump, and was a great patriot to all who knew her.
“The woman is Ashli Babbit, a 14-year veteran, who served four tours with the US Air Force, and was a high level security official throughout her time in service.”https://t.co/2MSrCEJi0M
— Bill Melugin (@BillFOXLA) January 7, 2021
Original story:
Footage of a protester shot on Capitol Hill went viral on Wednesday after a mob stormed the Capitol building and tried to break down doors within the building. The woman was taken to an area hospital, where she later died.
BREAKING: Woman who was shot inside the US Capitol building has died, several law enforcement officials say. – @PeteWilliamsNBC pic.twitter.com/a36m02MO5U
— NBC News (@NBCNews) January 6, 2021
The mob swarmed the Capitol as lawmakers were preparing to certify the presidential election and broke through many barriers and doors, overwhelming police. They proceeded to take over the building, including some congressional offices.
The yet unidentified woman appeared to be with the rioting crowd banging on a door.
WARNING: Graphic video.
GRAPHIC: A woman at the Capitol occupation appears to have been shot in this video. Blood comes out of her mouth. pic.twitter.com/d32S1tXtII
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) January 6, 2021
Another view of the shooting shows a man warning the crowd that someone on the other side of the door has a gun. “He’s got a gun! He’s got a gun!” the rioter shouts, amid the sound of breaking glass.
Here's what happens before she gets shot. Police had every reason to shoot. They were literally breaking into the room pic.twitter.com/JFNYiFzmYF
— ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) (@WontPassDaBoof) January 6, 2021
Contrary to the tweet below, video evidence does not support that the victim was behind the chamber doors. Details are very sparse and law enforcement has only confirmed that the woman was shot.
Believe she was on the opposite side of this window. So shot from the front. pic.twitter.com/7dJPdDe0zH
— Sam Huffman (@huffmsa) January 6, 2021
Photographs from inside the chamber show two men with guns drawn, pointing at the glass doors, but the panes of glass don’t match the video of the doors where the woman was shot. In the shooting video, the doors have large, unobstructed panes of glass, but in the House of Representatives chamber, the glass is covered by what looks like iron bars.
Representative Pat Fallon of Texas was in the chamber when the rioters began breaking in and gave his account on Facebook:
I JUST SAW COURAGE PERSONIFIED!!
We were in the middle of debate when the Capitol Police came into the chamber and told us there had been a breach in the Capitol Building. At first they wanted us to remain in our seats in the House Chamber. The breach must have gotten worse because they started to evacuate. Then the mob literally reached the doors of the House Chamber and the Police were short handed and I AM SO PROUD that Rep Tony Gonzalez, Rep Ronny Jackson, Rep Troy Nehls didn’t hesitate!!! We augmented the Police and stood our ground! We will never be intimated by any mob, regardless of their motivations.
The mob reached the actual doors to the House Chamber and there was visible concern on everyone’s faces and yet we stood our ground. Tony Gonzalez and Troy Nehls were literally on the front lines with myself and Admiral Jackson directly behind them and beside Rep Mark Wayne Mullin (who promised he’d be the last person to leave-standing guard while other members, both Democrats & Republicans were being evacuated to safety) and Ken Buck from CO was there as well. We broke off furniture to make clubs to defend the US House of Representatives.
Ronny looked over at me and declared, “I’m not going anywhere!” Tony and Troy looked back and nodded reassuringly. I remembered what Tim Grunhard (a center at Notre Dame) would say before a big game at home in South Bend. So I repeated it, “This IS OUR House! And we’re gonna protect it!!!” No one flinched. No one!!!
I serve with heroes. My Texas GOP colleagues have been my friends and now they are my heroes!!!
We then helped the police barricade the set of doors we were guarding with a large piece of furniture and we had stepped to the side to place it there and that’s when the small pieces of glass went flying. “SHOTS FIRED!” Someone screamed. “Rounds fired, rounds fired!!” Shouted another. Those rounds, if that’s what caused that broken glass would have struck us just seconds before.
Please pray for a peaceful resolution. We must condemn any and all violence. We don’t yet know the facts yet. Who was responsible, the why etc…Right now I can report only that we are safe and that we’re at an undisclosed location…and so serve with heroes!!!!
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