The Medical Examiner of DC has announced that Ashli Babbitt’s death was a homicide.
“On January 6, 2021 an unprecedented incident happened at the Capitol and resulted in the deaths of five people,” the document read. “The DC Chief Medical Examiner, Dr. Francisco Diaz has declared the following about the manner of death for four of those people.”
Ashli Babbitt, who was shot by a Capitol Police officer, was killed by a bullet to the left shoulder. Dr. Diaz ruled her death a homicide.
The summary also says the “cause of death for Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick are still pending.”
As for the others, Benjamin Phillips and Kevin Greeson had strokes—said in the document to be “hypertensive artherosclerotic disease”—and Roseanne Boyland, who passed out and was crushed, had “acute amphetamine intoxication.”
Despite Babbitt’s death being ruled a homicide, it is likely that nothing more will come from this. Back in February, investigators recommended no charges against the officer who killed her.
With videos showing protesters making their way inside the building. With Babbitt climbing through shattered glass, she was then shot by a Capitol Police officer who fired once.
The officer has not been officially identified and his lawyer, Mark E. Schamel has said he “used appropriate force. It’s not even a close call.”
Author: Scott Dowdy