Three people died during the United States Capitol protests on Wednesday – plus a woman shot to death by police when protesters stormed the historic building, police said in an interview.
Metropolitan DC police chief Robert Contee said the other three fatalities that day – a woman and two men – appear to have died from “medical emergencies”.
Contee said those deaths are under investigation.
The dead woman inside the Capitol building, identified as a United States Air Force veterinarian, Ashli Babbitt, is now part of an investigation as a sniper involved in an officer, the chief said.
Hundreds of supporters of President Trump, many from a demonstration by the president in front of the White House, stormed the Capitol building and vandalized it.
In all, Contee said 52 people were arrested after supporters of President Trump invaded the Capitol while Congress certified the president’s defeat on election day for former Vice President Joe Biden.
Four of them were charged with possession of unlicensed revolvers and one with illegal possession of weapons, he said.
Most were accused of violating a 6 pm to 6 am curfew instituted by Mayor Muriel Bowser.
Contee said more than a dozen policemen were injured in the attack, two of them seriously.
“You should also be aware that at least 14 MPD policemen were injured during the demonstrations,” said the chief. “A member suffered serious injuries after being pulled into a crowd and beaten. He is hospitalized and undergoing treatment for this injury ”.
“A police officer suffered significant facial injuries after being hit by a projectile and is also hospitalized,” said Contee.
Bowser also said that emergency measures in the nation’s capital will remain in effect for 15 days until Biden takes office as president.