UPDATE: Acting U.S. Capitol Police Chief Yogananda Pittman announced during a press briefing following the incident that one of the officers involved has died. “It is with a very, very heavy heart that I announce one of officers has succumbed to his injuries,” she said. She urged the public to keep the U.S. Capitol Police in their prayers.
“This has been an extremely difficult time for the Capitol Police after the events of Jan. 6, and now the events that have occurred here today,” she said. Washington, D.C., Police Chief Robert Contee, whose force is assisting, said that the threat did not appear to be ongoing.
Earlier this year, U.S. Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick was “injured while physically engaging with protesters” while responding at the Capitol riot, according to the department. Sicknick collapsed after returning to his division office and was taken to the hospital, where “he succumbed to his injuries.”
#BREAKING: Acting chief of the U.S. Capitol Police Yogananda Pittman shares what they know so far about the attack on a Capitol checkpoint. She then confirmed that the suspect has died as well as one of the two injured Capitol Police officer. pic.twitter.com/jfuCf4sUcI
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) April 2, 2021
“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,” tweeted Drew Hammill, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s deputy chief of staff. “The process of lowering the flags may take longer than usual because of the Capitol’s current lockdown status.”
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
Original story:
Two Capitol Police officers were reportedly injured and taken to the hospital after a suspect rammed them with a car, according to the U.S. Capitol Police.
The suspect, who reportedly got out of the car with a knife after smashing into the barricade that keeps unauthorized vehicles from entering the complex, was shot by police and died after being transported to the hospital, according to sources with knowledge of the situation.
CONFIRMED, from Cap Hill source w/ knowledge:
The suspect in the shooting/ramming of the Capitol today is dead.
— Lisa Desjardins (@LisaDNews) April 2, 2021
“CRITICAL INCIDENT: USCP is responding to the North Barricade vehicle access point along Independence Avenue for reports someone rammed a vehicle into two USCP officers. A suspect is in custody. Both officers are injured. All three have been transported to the hospital,” the U.S. Capitol Police tweeted. They later corrected their tweet to confirm that the incident took place off of Constitution Avenue.
Correction: Constitution Avenue
— U.S. Capitol Police (@CapitolPolice) April 2, 2021
UPDATE: Law enforcement officials have said a driver has been shot by Capitol Police after a car rammed into a barricade outside the US Capitol building and injured two police officers.@alexrossiSKY says the FBI has responded to the incident.
Read more: https://t.co/Frg2acoW0y pic.twitter.com/0WD3ZwdafR
— Sky News (@SkyNews) April 2, 2021
Video taken on the ground depicted what looked like injured people being attended to near where the incident occurred at the vehicle access point.
Large police presence and two stretchers being brought out pic.twitter.com/EmidoLP0PT
— Jacqui Heinrich (@JacquiHeinrich) April 2, 2021
BREAKING – Multiple US Capitol police officers have been shot according to the radio. More police units rush to the complex.pic.twitter.com/t2hmyh0aYP
— Disclose.tv 🚨 (@disclosetv) April 2, 2021
A text sent to Capitol staff from the U.S. Capitol Police read: “Capitol: External security threat, no entry or exit is permitted, stay away from exterior windows, doors. If outside, seek cover.”
🚨🚨Capitol staff just got this text message
I’m in the Capitol and will keep everyone posted here. pic.twitter.com/ydQGyCJcof
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) April 2, 2021
Ambulances and stretchers also arrived, and further video showed a helicopter landing on the lawn, apparently to pick up the injured individuals.
🚨🚨A helicopter just landed on the east front of the Capitol. I’ve never seen anything like this before. ever. pic.twitter.com/LxV0mywRSe
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) April 2, 2021
Chopper left. pic.twitter.com/FkD6oATDCd
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) April 2, 2021
Members of the National Guard, a contingent of which remains in Washington, D.C., following the Jan. 6 riot, mobilized in response, with video depicting them jogging in full gear toward the Capitol.
#BREAKING: National Guard on the move at the U.S. Capitol after someone reportedly rammed 2 Capitol police officers with a car. What we know right now: https://t.co/pYpvp9kqrK pic.twitter.com/LlDnk5bP09
— Spectrum Bay News 9 (@BN9) April 2, 2021
“Praying for the United States Capitol Police officers who were attacked at the Capitol,” Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) tweeted shortly after the attack. “We are still learning what’s taken place. Grateful to all the USCP and first responders who are on the scene.”
Praying for the United States Capitol Police officers who were attacked at the Capitol. We are still learning what’s taken place. Grateful to all the USCP and first responders who are on the scene.
— Leader McConnell (@LeaderMcConnell) April 2, 2021
Related: Many Arrested For January 6 Capitol Riot Won’t Get Prison Time