Angry supporters of President Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the election results stormed the U.S. Capitol as the House and Senate were meeting to confirm President-elect Joe Biden’s win in the Electoral College on Wednesday. Lawmakers and staff had to be evacuated during the riot.
Ashli Babbitt of San Diego was shot and killed during the chaos. The shooting happened shortly after 3 p.m. Demonstrators broke away from the outdoor protest and forced their way into the Capitol, effectively taking over the building and prompting those inside to shelter in place.
Images and video from the scene show violent clashes between officers and protesters in hallways and stairwells. Police said some protesters were able to gain access by using “chemical irritants” on law enforcement. Babbitt was shot as a group of protesters tried to rush through a barricaded door inside the building. She was hospitalized with a gunshot wound and later died.
According to Babbitt's social media pages, she was a vocal supporter of President Donald Trump and traveled to D.C. to take part in the "Save America" rally. On Tuesday, she told her Twitter followers, "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!," she said.
During a press conference Wednesday night, Metropolitan Police Department Chief Robert Contee said a Capitol police officer fired the shot.
