Video emerged on Twitter of Capitol Police allegedly shooting and killing Ashli Babbitt during the attack on Capitol Hill.
Some people claim cold-blooded murder while others say the officer was justified in the shooting. It definitely raises questions about using deadly force.
Here is the video. Remember, we say allegedly because the officer has not been convicted of a crime. We do not know his name and you do not see his face because of his shoulder going up.
This happened well after the mob broke in and swarmed the Capitol. Tensions were high, chaos everywhere.
The hallway had a barricade. The rioters were not allowed in the hallway. I believe some senators were sheltering in the rooms. You can see other officers down the hall with their guns drawn.
The video is loud, but I heard the officers behind the people tell them to stop many times. Other eyewitness accounts said that she was told to stop, but refused.
Let’s think about it.
Have you heard the phrase fog of war? It is “a phrase now much used to describe the complexity of military conflicts.”
It comes from Prussian military analyst Carl von Clausewitz. He said: “War is the realm of uncertainty; three quarters of the factors on which action in war is based are wrapped in a fog of greater or lesser uncertainty.”
The officer’s heart rate was probably at least 190 beats per minute. Everything is moving too fast. Your job is to protect the Capitol and the elected officials.
Was Babbitt a threat to the man or others? The way she moved I doubt he could tell she did not have weapons. Plus, it was a huge crowd of people. How do you know for sure which one if any has weapons?
Maybe the officer only meant to injure her?
Did he only use a gun because he did not have pepper spray? Did the cops behind the mob have pepper spray or tear gas? Could they have helped out by not using deadly force?
We need all the facts. Everyone, and I mean everyone, needs to put feelings and emotions aside and wait for facts.
The policeman is on administrative leave.
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