ASHLI Babbitt was a Donald Trump supporter who was gunned down in Washington DC.
The 35-year-old Air Force veteran had been with others who stormed the Capitol building on January 6 when she shot.
Now, for the first time, the identity of the police officer who pulled the trigger is set to be revealed.
'Speaking out and revealing his identity publicly for the first time, the officer will share his perspective on the events of that day, including the aftermath of the deadly insurrection and the threats he has received,' said NBC News in a statement announcing that he would be interviewed by Lester Holt.
'He will also discuss the recent news that Capitol Police will not discipline him following an internal review, exonerating him for use of force.'
The interview is set to air on Thursday at 6:30pm on NBC News.
Earlier this week, it was announced the officer "acted lawfully and in line with police department policy", the U.S. Capitol Police said Monday.
Federal prosecutors also cleared the officer of any wrongdoing after an investigation into the shooting and did not publicly name him. Capitol Police, concerned for his safety, have also not released his name. The officer’s attorney, Mark Schamel, said his client is facing “many credible death threats” and other “horrific threats” and was forced from his home because of them.
Read our Ashli Babbitt police officer live blog for the latest news and updates…
- Julia Fields
ASHLI WAS 'CLIMBING THROUGH A WINDOW'
The shooting took place as the Capitol was put under lockdown, and the entire city on a 6pm curfew.
One witness to the shooting claimed she was shot by police as she tried to climb through a broken window to enter the congressional chambers.
A graphic clip shared on social media showed a woman, believed to be Ms Babbitt, bleeding out from the neck after she was allegedly shot.
The exact circumstances surrounding the shooting were unclear.
- Julia Fields
WILL THE SHOOTER FACE CHARGES?
The shooting is being investigated by the force's internal affairs unit, which is responsible for investigating deaths involving officers.
They have not been charged with anything as of January 7.
The shooter has not been identified before now.
- Julia Fields
WITNESS STATEMENT
A fellow Trump supporter, who witnessed Babbitt, told WUSA 9: "A number of police and secret service were saying 'get back, get down, get out of the way'.
"She didn't heed the call and as we kind of raced up to grab people and pull them back they shot her in the neck and she fell back on me.
"And she started to say 'it's fine, it's cool' and then she started kinda moving weird and blood was coming out of her mouth and neck and nose and I don't know if she's alive or dead any more."
He added: "I'm not injured… it could have been me, but she went in first."
- Julia Fields
WHO SHOT ASHLI BABBIT?
Police say Babbitt was shot by a plain-clothed officer on January 6 as she and other protesters stormed the Capitol building.
She was part of a march looking to disrupt the formal confirmation of Joe Biden's win in the presidential election.
- Julia Fields
MIKE PENCE ON HER PASSING
In a televised address, Vice President Mike Pence said: "We grieve the loss of life."
- Julia Fields
WAS ASHLI MARRIED?
She was married to husband Aaron and lived near San Diego.
Her husband says she was a strong supporter of President Trump, and was a great patriot to all who knew her, KUSI TV reported.
- Julia Fields
LAST TWEET
The day before she died, Babbitt tweeted: "Nothing will stop us…. they can try and try and try but the storm is here and it is descending upon DC in less than 24 hours….dark to light."
Babbitt, who used the Twitter handle CommonAshSense, also retweeted — a few hours ahead of her and other Trump supporters storming the Capitol — a "MUST BE DONE LIST before Congress meets today."
On January 5, Babbitt retweeted TV footage of a pro-Trump crowd massing in DC ahead of the January 6 riots over the election result.
- Julia Fields
WHAT DID ASHLI SAY BEFORE THE PROTESTS?
After President Donald Trump addressed his followers on Capitol Hill, Babbitt reportedly filmed herself moments before the mayhem.
Draped in a Trump flag, Babbitt went live on Facebook and boasted that she was part of the mob marching to the Capitol.
She claimed there were more than three million rioters marching alongside her in Washington DC.
- Julia Fields
THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT FAILED TO CHARGE THE OFFICER
However, The Justice Department declined to charge the officer in connection to the shooting, after they “determined that there is insufficient evidence to support a criminal prosecution" following an investigation.
Yet, an attorney for Babbitt's family announced plans on April 29 to file a $10million civil lawsuit against the Capitol Police and the officer who shot her.
- Julia Fields
TRUMP CLAIMS HE KNOWS WHO SHOT BABBIT
On Wednesday, July 7, former President Trump claimed at a press conference that he knows who shot Babbitt.
Trump told the press: "People are being treated unbelievably unfairly when you look at people in prison, and nothing happens to antifa, and they burn down cities and killed people.
"There were no guns in the Capitol … except for the gun that shot Ashli Babbitt, and nobody knows who that man were [sic]."
"If that were the opposite way, that man would be all over — he would be the most well-known — and I believe I can say 'man' because I believe I know exactly who it is — but he would be the most well-known person in this country, in the world."
- Julia Fields
HOW DID ASHLI BABBIT DIE?
Babbitt was shot in the chest during the mayhem inside the Capitol on January 6, 2021.
Video footage captured the sound of the gunshot and showed the woman crumpling to the floor from multiple angles.
She was reportedly shot by Capitol Police.
- Julia Fields
WAS ASHLI A TRUMP SUPPORTER?
Her mother-in-law Robin Babbitt, told The New York Post, “She is a Trump supporter.”
- Julia Fields
ASHLI'S MOTHER-IN-LAW ON HER PASSING
Her mother-in-law Robin Babbitt, told The New York Post: “I’m numb. I’m devastated.
"Nobody from DC notified my son and we found out on TV."
- Julia Fields
WHO WAS ASHLI BABBIT?
Babbitt was an Air Force vet with 14 years in the service, during which she did four tours of duty.
She was a high-level security official throughout her time in service.
Source: Read Full Article
