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DC National Guard stand outside the Capitol, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, after a day of rioting protesters. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
SAN DIEGO, CA A U.S. Capitol Police officer who fatally shot a San Diego woman during an insurgent raid on the halls of Congress was on administrative leave Thursday pending investigations into the gunfire.
Ashli Babbiit, 35, was killed in the shooting Wednesday afternoon inside the Capitol building as she joined other rioters in storming the complex. As protesters were forcing their way toward the House Chamber where members of Congress were sheltering in place, a sworn USCP employee discharged their service weapon, striking an adult female, Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund said in a statement. Medical assistance was rendered immediately, and the female was transported to the hospital where she later succumbed to her injuries. She has been identified as Ashli Babbitt.
Four people died on the US Capitol grounds Wednesday and 52 people have been arrested, Metropolitan Police Department Chief Robert J Contee said Wednesday evening, after supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol in an unprecedented effort to stop Congress from certifying President-elect Joe Biden's election victory.
BBC News
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media captionWhen a mob stormed the US capitol
The US Congress has certified Joe Biden s victory in the presidential election, hours after supporters of Donald Trump stormed the building in an attack that saw four people die.
Lawmakers resumed the session after police removed a mob that had been encouraged by President Trump as part of his attempt to overturn his defeat.
The certification clears the way for Mr Biden to be sworn in on 20 January.
In response, Mr Trump finally pledged an orderly transition of power.
Wednesday s chaotic scenes followed months of escalating rhetoric from Mr Trump and some Republican allies that sought to undermine the result of the 3 November election. The invasion of the Capitol by the president s supporters - some armed - was an event without precedent in modern American history.
Republicans launched their most fierce attacks on Trump since his election, accusing him of inciting violence by falsely claiming widespread election fraud.