The US Capitol Police officer who fatally shot Ashli Babbitt during the insurrection on 6 January should not be charged with any crimes for her death, according to The Wall Street Journal, citing people familiar with the investigation.
An officer fired at the 35-year-old Air Force veteran from California as a mob clustered around the doors to the House of Representatives chambers during a riot inside the halls of Congress.
Before her death, Ms Babbitt on Twitter had referenced QAnon conspiracy theories and baseless claims of election fraud. Her last message before she was killed said: "Nothing will stop us ... they can try and try and try but the storm is here and it is descending upon DC in less than 24 hours ... dark to light!”
The civil rights division of the US Attorney’s office for the District of Columbia has opened a probe into the shooting.
The officer was placed on administrative leave and their police powers have been suspended pending the outcome of a joint Capitol Police and Metropolitan Police Department investigation.
At least eight people who were at the Capitol on 6 January have died, including Ms Babbitt, two officers who died by suicide in the wake of the riot, a Capitol police officer who died from injuries from rioters, as well as three rioters who died from medical emergencies, and a man who died by suicide following his arrest for his role in the riots.
Capitol Police union chairman Gus Papathanasiou said nearly 140 officers from Capitol Police and Washington DC’s Metropolitan Police Department were injured.
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Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick – who died after he was struck in the head with a fire extinguisher by a mob supporting former president Donald Trump’s false claims of election fraud – will lie in honour inside the Capitol building’s rotunda this week.
Several videos from the scene where Ms Babbitt was killed show a crowd smashing glass on the door to the House chambers.
Capitol Police officers had drawn their weapons from the other side of the door, where members of Congress and others sheltered under chairs.
Ms Babbitt can be seen falling from a window from the other side of the double doors.
deadkennedy on February 2nd, 2021 at 01:16 UTC »
We all saw the video.
He fired a single shot, which hit its mark. No excessive force was used, it was a proportional response to the efforts to breach the cambers.
no way he should be considered for any charges.
donutholster on February 2nd, 2021 at 00:54 UTC »
She was violently breaching a safe zone for Congressional members and for what purposes? It wasn't for peaceful purposes, so she got shot. I'm surprised more of them didn't get shot.
work_alias on February 2nd, 2021 at 00:47 UTC »
As it should. She clearly was breaching a barricade and they were protecting the senatedoors. It’s unfortunate, glad they completed the investigation, and glad they are choosing not to charge this officer.
EDIT: House Chambers