Cop who killed Ashli Babbitt was acting ‘lawfully and within Department policy’ and ‘saved members from possible death’: Capitol police refuse to name officer and confirm there will be NO internal discipline
- Capitol Police announced Monday officer who shot and killed Ashli Babbitt acted in line with department police
- Babbitt was an Air Force veteran who served multiple tours in the Middle East
- She was a known Trump supporter and reportedly pushed conservative conspiracy theories on social media
- The DOJ said in April that it will not be bringing charges against the officer
The Capitol Police officer who fatally shot Ashli Babbitt during the January 6 US Capitol riot was found to have acted lawfully and in line with police department policy, and will not face any internal discipline, the agency announced on Monday.
Babbitt, 35, was the only person killed during the insurrection when the officer – who hasn’t been named – opened fire at a mob of Donald Trump supporters as they stormed through the Rotunda.
Capitol Police unveiled the findings of their internal investigation into the fatal shooting on Monday. Officials said they had interviewed multiple witnesses and reviewed video and radio calls as part of the monthslong probe.
‘USCP’s Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) determined the officer’s conduct was lawful and within Department policy, which says an officer may use deadly force only when the officer reasonably believes that action is in the defense of human life, including the officer’s own life, or in the defense of any person in immediate danger of serious physical injury,’ the agency stated in a press release.
Officials said the cop, who is not being named out of concerns for his safety due to threats, ‘potentially saved Members [of Congress] and staff from serious injury and possible death from a large crowd of rioters who forced their way into the U.S. Capitol and to the House Chamber where Members and staff were steps away.’
According to the statement, the officer’s actions were consistent with his training and thwarted rioters from accessing the House Chamber.
In April, the Department of Justice said it wouldn’t be filing criminal charges against the officer based on insufficient evidence, so the conclusion of the internal probe ends the official investigation.
Babbitt’s family told The Washington Examiner earlier this month that they plan on filing a $10million wrongful death lawsuit, claiming a plainclothes officer didn’t issue a verbal command.
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Ashli Babbitt, 35, was fatally shot by a Capitol Police officer during the January 6 riot at the Capitol. The officer was exonerated of any wrongdoing on Friday
The US Capitol Police on Monday announced that the officer who shot and killed January 6 rioter Ashli Babbitt has been cleared of any wrongdoing
Babbitt was the only person killed after protesters stormed the Capitol on January 6
The family’s lawyer, Terry Roberts, alluded to a video of the Air Force veteran being shot and said the fact that no one appears to be ducking for cover in the moments before Babbitt was killed also suggests that the cop gave no verbal warning.
The cop’s lawyer denied this in previous interviews and said his client issued multiple verbal commands but that they weren’t audible on the video because the officer was wearing a mask.
Babbitt served multiple Middle East tours from 2004 to 2016, according to Air Force records.
She had shown her support for former President Donald Trump and promoted conservative activists and QAnon conspiracy theory movement leaders, NBC News reported.