Internal probe clears officer of wrongdoing in Capitol riot shooting of Ashli Babbitt

A TRAGEDY. >> THEIR INTENTIONS WERE PEACEFUL PROTEST, AND AS EVERYBODY SAW, THINGS SEEMED TO ESCALATE QUICKLY. PETER: PEACEFUL PROTEST TURNING INTO A RAGING RIOT. SUPPORTERS OF PRESIDENT TRUMP STORMING THE U.S. CAPITOL. POLICE SAY BREAKING THROUGH WINDOWS, FORCING THEIR WAY TOWARD MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WHO WERE SHELTERING FROM THE SIEGE. THAT’S WHEN A CAPITOL POLICE OFFICER, OPENED FIRE. >> THEY WERE GOING TO SHOOT, LIKE NOT JUST LIKE, HOLD IT THERE AND RUN AWAY. THEY WERE LITERALLY GONNA SHOOT TO KILL. THE SECOND THAT SHE CLIMBED THROUGH THE WINDOW SHE GOT SHOT. >> TO THINK THAT SOMETHING LIKE THIS WAS EVEN POSSIBLE, I DON’T THINK THAT EVER ENTERED HER MIND AS WELL AS ANY OF OUR MINDS. PETER: 35-YEAR-OLD ASHLI BABBI DIED FROM HER WOUNDS. BABBITT IS FROM CALIFORNIA, BUT HER HUSBAND IS FROM NORTH ATTLEBOR >> HER BROTHER-IN-LAW SHE SPENT YEARS SERVING IN THE AIR FORCE IN IRAQ, AFGHANISTAN, AND KUWAIT. >> THE PLAN WAS TO GO OUT THERE AND CONDUCT A PEACEFUL PROTEST AND STATE HER POINT OF VIEWS AND SPEAK HER MIND AND INVOKE HER FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS THAT SHE PERSONALLY FOUGHT AND RISKED A LOT FOR WHILE SERVIN JOHN: PETER: BABBITT WAS A STAUNCH SUPPORTER OF PRESIDENT TRUMP, POSTING HER BELIEFS ON SOCIAL MEDI SHE FLEW TO D.C. TO RESIST THE CERTIFICATION OF THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE. >> SHE WAS A FIRM BELIEVER, AND WHAT MEANT MOST TO HER WAS THIS COUNTRY, AND FIGHTING FOR WHAT WAS RIGHT. AND I THINK IN HER EYES THAT’S WHAT SHE WAS DOING. PETER: THAT CAPITOL POLICE OFFICER WHO FIRED THE DEADLY SHOT WAS PUT ON LEAVE PENDING AN INVESTIGATION. THE FAMILY SAYS THEY

Video above: Family of Air Force veteran killed in US Capitol shooting speaks outAn officer who shot and killed a woman during the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol as she began to climb through the broken part of a door leading into an area known as the Speaker’s Lobby acted lawfully and in line with police department policy, the U.S. Capitol Police said Monday.Capitol Police announced the findings of their internal investigation into the fatal shooting of Ashli Babbitt on Monday. Officials said they had interviewed multiple witnesses and reviewed video and radio calls as part of the monthslong probe.Federal prosecutors also cleared the officer of any wrongdoing after an investigation into the shooting and did not publicly name him. Capitol Police, concerned for his safety, have also not released his name. The officer’s attorney, Mark Schamel, said his client is facing "many credible death threats" and other "horrific threats" and was forced from his home because of them.The Associated Press is not naming the officer because of the concerns for his safety.Babbitt, a 35-year-old Air Force veteran from San Diego, was shot by the police lieutenant when she tried to climb through a door with the glass smashed out as she and others in the mob pressed to get into the Speaker’s Lobby outside the House chamber. She was unarmed.Prosecutors said Babbitt was part of the mob that was trying to get into the House as Capitol Police officers were evacuating members of Congress from the chamber. The officers used furniture to try to barricade the glass doors separating the hallway from the Speaker’s Lobby to try to stave off the rioters, who kept trying to break through those doors, smashing the glass with flagpoles, helmets and other objects.At the same time, Babbitt tried climbing through one of the doors where the glass was broken out. The officer, inside the Speaker’s Lobby, then fired a single round from his service weapon, striking Babbitt in the shoulder, prosecutors said.Capitol Police said its office of professional responsibility – which handles such investigations – determined "the officer’s conduct was lawful and within Department policy." The officer will face no internal disciplinary action.The policy says an officer should only use deadly force when they reasonably believe their actions will be in defense of human life – either their own or another person who could be "in immediate danger of serious physical injury," officials said.

WASHINGTON —

Video above: Family of Air Force veteran killed in US Capitol shooting speaks out

An officer who shot and killed a woman during the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol as she began to climb through the broken part of a door leading into an area known as the Speaker’s Lobby acted lawfully and in line with police department policy, the U.S. Capitol Police said Monday.

Capitol Police announced the findings of their internal investigation into the fatal shooting of Ashli Babbitt on Monday. Officials said they had interviewed multiple witnesses and reviewed video and radio calls as part of the monthslong probe.

Federal prosecutors also cleared the officer of any wrongdoing after an investigation into the shooting and did not publicly name him. Capitol Police, concerned for his safety, have also not released his name. The officer’s attorney, Mark Schamel, said his client is facing "many credible death threats" and other "horrific threats" and was forced from his home because of them.

The Associated Press is not naming the officer because of the concerns for his safety.

Babbitt, a 35-year-old Air Force veteran from San Diego, was shot by the police lieutenant when she tried to climb through a door with the glass smashed out as she and others in the mob pressed to get into the Speaker’s Lobby outside the House chamber. She was unarmed.

Prosecutors said Babbitt was part of the mob that was trying to get into the House as Capitol Police officers were evacuating members of Congress from the chamber. The officers used furniture to try to barricade the glass doors separating the hallway from the Speaker’s Lobby to try to stave off the rioters, who kept trying to break through those doors, smashing the glass with flagpoles, helmets and other objects.

At the same time, Babbitt tried climbing through one of the doors where the glass was broken out. The officer, inside the Speaker’s Lobby, then fired a single round from his service weapon, striking Babbitt in the shoulder, prosecutors said.

Capitol Police said its office of professional responsibility – which handles such investigations – determined "the officer’s conduct was lawful and within Department policy." The officer will face no internal disciplinary action.

The policy says an officer should only use deadly force when they reasonably believe their actions will be in defense of human life – either their own or another person who could be "in immediate danger of serious physical injury," officials said.

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