Sandy MaloneWashington, DC – U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) Acting Chief Yogananda Pittman announced that one of the Capitol Police officers who was injured when a suspect rammed the north barricade barrier at the U.S. Capitol complex on Friday has died.
Chief Pittman said the incident occurred at about 1:02 p.m. on April 2 when a man drove his vehicle into a security barricade on the U.S. Senate side of the Capitol building, NBC News reported.
The police chief said that the driver struck two officers with his vehicle and rammed the barricade.
Then he jumped out of his car brandishing a knife at the officers, according to Chief Pittman.
“Our officers then engaged that suspect,” she told reporters. “He did not respond to verbal commands. The suspect did start lunging toward U.S. Capitol Police officers, at which time, U.S. Capitol Police officers fired upon the suspect. At this time, the suspect has bene pronounced deceased.”
“Two U.S. Capitol Police officers were transported to two different hospitals, and it is with a very, very heavy heart that I announce one of our officers has succumbed to his injuries,” Chief Pittman announced with tears in her eyes.
She said she could not yet identify the slain hero because his family members hadn’t been notified.
“I just ask that the public continue to keep U.S. Capitol police and their families in your prayers,” Chief Pittman continued. “This has been an extremely difficult time for U.S. Capitol police after the events of January 6, and now the events that have occurred here today.”
BREAKING: Acting U.S. Capitol Police chief on Capitol incident: "It is with a very, very heavy heart that I announce one of our officers has succumbed to his injuries." https://t.co/oct9CmdItF pic.twitter.com/gB3rq0IHW6
— ABC News (@ABC) April 2, 2021
BREAKING: U.S. Capitol Police say one officer has died from their injuries after a security incident outside the complex earlier today.
Their name is currently being withheld until next of kin is notified.
Suspect also dead from injuries after charging police w/ a knife.
— Jennifer Franco (@jennfranconews) April 2, 2021
Congress is in spring recess this week so there were no lawmakers at the Capitol when the suspect attempted to breach the barrier, NBC News reported.
A medevac helicopter landed on the U.S. Capitol Grounds following the incident but one of the officers had already been transported in a police vehicle.
The suspect was transported by ambulance to a local hospital, NBC News reported.
#Retweet pic.twitter.com/MHsG1k1hsR
— #43Train is ELITE(9G 13A 22P) (@Robostop10) April 2, 2021
Officials have not released the identity of the suspect.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-California) ordered flags to be lowered in the U.S. Capitol complex in honor of the murdered officer.
Speaker Pelosi has ordered the flags at the U.S. Capitol to be flown at half-staff due to the death of a U.S. Capitol Police Officer in the of duty today. The process of lowering the flags may take longer than usual because of the Capitol’s current lockdown status.
— Drew Hammill (@Drew_Hammill) April 2, 2021
This has been a tremendously difficult year for @CapitolPolice. Wishing healing and comfort to the entire department and to the family of the Capitol Police Officer who died in the line of duty.
— Joaquin Castro (@JoaquinCastrotx) April 2, 2021
DC Metropolitan Police Chief Robert Contee also appeared at the press conference an announced the DC police would be heading up the investigation into the officer-involved shooting.
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