The U.S. Capitol Police said Jan. 7 that the officers who shot and killed a woman entering the Capitol during a joint session of Congress on Jan. 6 have been ordered to leave and are under investigation.
Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund said at a press conference on the 7th, “Those individuals used metal pipes, chemical irritants and other weapons to attack Capitol Police officers and other plainclothes law enforcement officers with the intent of gaining access to the Capitol.”
He said a sworn Capitol Police officer fired at an adult woman as the protesters advanced toward the House of Representatives, where members of Congress were holding a joint session.
The woman, identified as Ashli Babbitt, 35, had served in the U.S. Air Force.
Babbitt was ambulanced before being taken to the hospital, but ultimately died in resuscitation. The officer who fired the gun has been ordered to be placed on temporary leave and is under investigation.
Babbitt’s family said they are seeking the truth about what happened at the time. “No one (officer) contacted us. Even though there were a lot of phone calls coming in, no officer contacted us.” A member of Babbitt’s family told the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Babbitt’s ex-husband, Timothy McEntee, said in an interview with the Washington Examiner, “Babbitt was very remarkable woman, big-hearted and strong-willed. I’m very shocked and feel bad for her family. (She) loved America with all her heart. It’s a very sad day.”
Babbitt and McKnight lived together for 14 years and served in the U.S. Air Force together.
McKnight said he recognized Babbitt immediately after the incident, but confirmed the news after calling a friend because Babbitt lived in California.
Capitol Police Chief Sander said he had never seen a violent attack on the Capitol in his 30 years of law enforcement in Washington, DC. He added that ensuring public safety in public – especially for acts covered by the First Amendment – has been challenging.
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