WASHINGTON – At least four people died at or near the US Capitol as President Donald Trump's supporters rioted and besieged the federal legislature, police said today.
Police had earlier confirmed the death of one woman who was shot, and DC police chief Robert Contee further elaborated that she was shot by a plainclothes Capitol police officer, the Anadolu Agency reported.
The woman, who authorities are yet to identify, "was transported to a local hospital where, after all lifesaving efforts failed, she was pronounced deceased", Contee said.
"This is a tragic incident and I send my condolences to the victim’s family and friends," he added.
While the Capitol police is a separate law enforcement agency than the DC Police Department, the latter will, nonetheless, launch an internal affairs probe into the shooting as it does for all police-involved shootings in the nation's capital.
Contee said the other three deaths – one female and two males – involved "separate medical emergencies, which resulted in their deaths".
He did not provide any causes of death, saying the determinations will rely upon an examination from DC's chief medical officer.
Meanwhile, at least 14 police officers were injured, including one who was seriously hurt when he was "pulled into a crowd and assaulted", Contee said.
At least 52 people have been arrested, the vast majority of whom – 47 – were taken into custody for violating Mayor Muriel Bowser's curfew order, Contee said.
He stressed, however, that the figure will change, saying arrests are ongoing.
Bowser separately said police would be issuing notices for people seen breaching the federal legislature.
Police also recovered a pipe bomb from the Democratic National Committee building and another from the Republican National Committee.
A vehicle discovered on Capitol grounds was also found to have a cooler containing a long gun and molotov cocktails, Contee said.
In addition, Bowser extended a public emergency for 15 days after violent protests in the US capital, which will run through the end of Trump's time in office, when president-elect Joe Biden will be inaugurated on January 20. – Bernama, January 7, 2021
