Ashli Babbitt, San Diego Woman, Shot And Killed At US Capitol Building
SAN DIEGO (CBSLA) — A Southern California woman was shot and killed Wednesday when a mob of Trump supporters overran the U.S. Capitol building and sent members of Congress fleeing during the Electoral College vote ratification.
Ashli Babbitt, 35, of San Diego, was shot by a Capitol police officer after the rioters breached the Capitol and attempted to enter the House chamber, Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund confirmed in a news release Thursday.
"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 wrote. "Medical assistance was rendered immediately, and the female was transported to the hospital where she later succumbed to her injuries. She has been identified as Ashli Babbitt."
The gunshot which killed Babbitt was captured on cell phone video.
"A young woman was just shot in the neck right besides me in the Capitol Building," wrote a man on Twitter.
Aaron Babbitt, Ashli's husband, told CBS affiliate KFMB-TV that his wife traveled to Washington D.C. alone and he was going to pick her up from San Diego International Airport on Friday upon her return.
He told KUSI-TV his wife served in the Air Force for 14 years. He described her as a strong Trump supporter.
The shooting is being investigated by Metropolitan Police Department's internal affairs unit, which is responsible for investigating all officer-involved deaths in Washington, D.C., even those involving other agencies.
In addition to the shooting, one woman and two men died "around the Capitol grounds" after suffering "separate medical emergencies," Contee said. Contee did not identify any of the deceased or provide further information on the medical issues that lead to their deaths.