- Biden said he was “heartbroken” after an attack on the Capitol left a Capitol Police officer dead.
- A car collided with a barricade on the Capitol, injuring two officers – one of whom is hospitalized.
- Biden ordered the White House flags to be flown at half-mast to honor the officer.
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President Joe Biden ordered the flags in the White House to be flown at half the mast in response to the death of a Capitol police officer after a car collided with a barricade outside the Capitol on Friday afternoon.
The previous Friday, the Capitol was blocked after a vehicle collided with an external barricade and wounded two officers. One of the officers, identified by the Capitol Police as Officer William Evans, later died from his injuries.
“Jill and I were heartbroken to learn of the violent attack at a security checkpoint on the United States Capitol, which killed US Capitol Police officer William Evans, and left a colleague fighting for his life. “said Biden in a statement. “We send our sincere condolences to Officer Evans’ family, and to everyone who mourns his loss. We know what a difficult time it has been for Capitol, everyone who works there and those who protect him.”
The suspect was shot and killed by one of the policemen after leaving “the car with a knife in his hand” and “launching himself” against the policemen, Yogananda Pittman, head of the Capitol Police, told a news conference. The National Guard was sent to the Capitol shortly after the incident to assist the Capitol police who were lined up on the building’s perimeter.
“I want to express the nation’s gratitude to the Capitol Police, the National Guard’s Immediate Response Force and others who responded quickly to this attack,” the president said in the statement. “While we regret the loss of yet another brave Capitol Police officer, I ordered the White House flags to be lowered at half-mast.”
Biden’s action followed Mayor Nancy Pelosi, making a similar order to lower the flags on the Capitol to half the picture.
The Capitol blockade was lifted around 3 pm local time.
Less than three months ago, pro-Trump protesters stormed the Capitol, resulting in the deaths of five people – including two Capitol police officers.