4 Dead After Rioters Stormed The U.S. Capitol
While the U.S. Capitol has been once again secured, we have learned that four people passed away from yesterday’s riots at the halls of Congress.
Donald Trump’s supporters gathered in Washington D.C. on Wednesday in an attempt to create chaos and seemingly try to stop the congressional certification of Joe Biden’s presidential victory. Their storming of the Capitol building was supported by the president via his rallies and Twitter account, which along with all of his social media, has been indefinitely suspended.
One of the people who died during the riot has been identified as 35-year-old Ashli Babbitt. The Washington Post reports the California native was reportedly shot in the chest and later died at the hospital after attempting to enter the Capitol building. D.C. Police Chief Robert J. Contee III told reporters on Wednesday that U.S. Capitol Police shot her.
The three others died of unspecified medical emergencies during yesterday’s chaos. They have not been identified.
On social media, Babbitt recorded hostile videos about immigration and her support for a border wall. She also tweeted a picture from a Trump boat parade in San Diego, wearing a shirt reading “We are Q,” reportedly referring to the far-right conspiracy group QAnon.
It is unclear if the rioters that gathered on Wednesday were from an organized group or just random people, but what is clear is that they were determined to stop Biden from becoming president, believing President Trump’s baseless claims of massive voter fraud during the 2020 election.
Congress officially certified Biden’s win just after 3:40 a.m. on Jan. 7.
President Trump is criticized for inciting the violence for weeks by complaining that the 2020 presidential election was rigged. After multiple lawsuits in several states, his legal team lost countless cases by failing to provide any evidence of massive voter fraud that would overturn the election.
