United States Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund said there will be an investigation into how Capitol law enforcement handled an unprecedented breach of the Capitol on Wednesday that resulted in the death of a female protester and an hourslong lockdown.
“The USCP is conducting a thorough review of this incident, security planning and policies and procedures,” Sund said in a statement on Thursday.
Sund described preparation for demonstrators, a common occurrence near the Capitol, as “robust,” but security appeared to fall apart quickly on Wednesday.
Capitol personnel on Thursday continued to clean up the destruction inside the building, where violent protesters smashed through glass and doors, including the antique doors leading to the House chamber. Hundreds mobbed the building, taking over the Senate chamber and one of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s offices. Some protesters broke through windows and a door on the east front of the Capitol, and others streamed in through side doors without being stopped by police.
One protester, identified as Air Force veteran Ashli Babbit, was shot just steps outside the historic speaker’s lobby.
Sund said the Capitol Police employee who shot Babbit has been suspended pending an investigation by both the Capitol Police and the D.C. police.
The shooting was captured on several videos and appeared to occur as a throng of protesters were breaking through glass and wood doors leading to the speaker’s lobby and just steps from the chamber where lawmakers were sheltering.
“As protesters were forcing their way toward the House Chamber where Members of Congress were sheltering in place, a sworn USCP employee discharged their service weapon, striking an adult female,” Sund said in the statement. “Medical assistance was rendered immediately, and the female was transported to the hospital where she later succumbed to her injuries.”
In the statement, Sund said the breach of the Capitol by protesters was unprecedented.
“The violent attack on the U.S. Capitol was unlike any I have ever experienced in my 30 years in law enforcement here in Washington, D.C.,” Sund said. “Maintaining public safety in an open environment — specifically for First Amendment activities — has long been a challenge. The USCP had a robust plan established to address anticipated First Amendment activities. But make no mistake — these mass riots were not First Amendment activities; they were criminal riotous behavior. The actions of the USCP officers were heroic given the situation they faced, and I continue to have tremendous respect in the professionalism and dedication of the women and men of the United States Capitol Police.”
In addition to the Capitol breach, police detonated two pipe bombs planted at the nearby Democratic and Republican political headquarters. D.C. Metropolitan Police said on Wednesday night that three others died as a result of the chaos.
In addition, police dismantled a suspicious truck near the Republican National Committee headquarters. Police arrested the truck owner and 13 others, and they are examining video surveillance.
