A US Air Force veteran from San Diego has been identified as the woman who was shot and killed inside the US Capitol when Donald Trump's supporters stormed the building and clashed with police.
Ashli Babbit, 35, was shot in the chest on Wednesday afternoon after chaotic scenes broke out when dozens of Trump supporters breached security perimeters at the Capitol. She died several hours later.
Babbit's husband confirmed her identity to San Diego news outlet KUSI. He said Babbit was a 14-year veteran who served four tours with Air Force as a 'high level security official'.
The husband said Babbit was a fervent supporter of Trump and 'a great patriot to all who knew her', KUSI reported.
It remains unclear who shot Babbit as the Metropolitan Police Department in DC conducts an investigation into her death.
Husband of Trump rioter and Air Force vet who was shot and killed while storming the Capitol pays tribute to the 'great patriot' - as video shows her climbing through a broken window seconds before 'cop opened fire'
— Romeo (@romeo1mancat) January 7, 2021
How she wanted to go https://t.co/HnYbvcotgS
Two witnesses to the shooting spoke to CNN's Anderson Cooper on Wednesday evening and suggested that Babbit may have been shot by a police officer when she tried to climb through a broken window into an area that officers were blocking off.
Trump supporters committed crimes at his behest, right after his rally. Not “Antifa”. His people. The woman rioter who was shot and died in the Capitol was a staunch Trump supporter, Q-anon believer, and veteran. https://t.co/R5mE33M0Cj
— Jennifer Baty (@JenBaty) January 7, 2021
One of the witnesses, John Sullivan, recorded a video of the aftermath, showing police with guns drawn and Babbit lying in a pool of blood in a stairway inside the Capitol.
Sullivan is the founder of the left-wing activist group Insurgence USA. He said he was not at the Capitol as part of the protest but did not specify what exactly brought him there.
Victim? They were damaging property, hurting officers trying to keep them at bay, and storming a federal building some unarmed and some armed. #AshliBabbitt was not a victim. She committed a crime during an act of GD treason and must be labeled as one. As a vet she KNEW BETTER! https://t.co/MToIDMhl5k
— ?????????-ꜱʜᴇ•ʜᴇʀ (@StimmyCarter) January 7, 2021
Describing the moments leading up to the shooting, Sullivan said protesters were trying to get into the main entrance of the chamber when they came upon two guards who refused to move.
The group then went down another hallway and used flag poles and other items to break windows to get into the chamber before a group of police emerged.
This article has been adapted from its original source
