One US Capitol Police officer has died and another is injured after a suspect rammed a car into a police barricade outside the Capitol building Friday afternoon.
The suspect in the attack has also died.
Here's what we know:
- The incident: At about 1:02 p.m. ET, a suspect rammed his car into two US Capitol officers and then hit the north barricade barrier at the Capitol, Yogananda Pittman, acting chief of the US Capitol Police, said during a news conference Friday afternoon. "The suspect did start lunging toward US Capitol Police officers, at which time US Capitol Police officers fired upon the suspect," she said. The Capitol complex was placed on lockdown following the attack.
- The victims: Two US Capitol Police officers were taken to different hospitals with injuries and one died, Pittman added. The officer who died in the attack near the Capitol building was identified as William "Billy" Evans, an 18-year US Capitol Police veteran, the chief said in a statement. The second US Capitol Police officer who was struck by the car this afternoon is in stable and non-threatening condition, according to a tweet from the department.
- The suspect: The suspect died following the attack, Pittman said. The suspect was identified as Noah Green, according to federal and local law enforcement sources. One federal source said he is 25. Green posted on social media in the weeks before the attack that he had lost his job and suffered medical ailments, and said he believed the federal government was targeting him with "mind control."
- The aftermath: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ordered flags at the US Capitol to be flown at half-staff following the officer's death, Pelosi's deputy chief of staff tweeted. "Today, America’s heart has been broken by the tragic and heroic death of one of our Capitol Police heroes: Officer William Evans. He is a martyr for our democracy," Pelosi said in a statement.
- President Biden sends his condolences: Biden said he and first lady Jill Biden are heartbroken. “Jill and I were heartbroken to learn of the violent attack at a security checkpoint on the US Capitol grounds, which killed Officer William Evans of the US Capitol Police, and left a fellow officer fighting for his life.” Biden said. “We send our heartfelt condolences to Officer Evans’ family, and everyone grieving his loss. We know what a difficult time this has been for the Capitol, everyone who works there, and those who protect it.” The White House flag was lowered to half-staff.
- Larger context: The officer who was killed Friday is the second to die in the line of duty this year. Capitol Police officer, Brian D. Sicknick, died a day after the Capitol riot on Jan. 6 "due to injuries sustained while on-duty," the Capitol Police said in a statement. Two officers died by suicide after responding to the riot.