Capitol Police officer who shot Ashli Babbitt exonerated in internal probe (August 2021)
www.nbcnews.com

...The Capitol Police officer who fatally shot Ashli Babbitt outside a door of the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6 riot has been formally exonerated after an internal investigation, according to a department memo obtained by NBC News.

The officer, whose name has not been released, opened fire on Babbitt as she and a mob of other Trump supporters tried to forcefully enter the Capitol.

Video of the shooting showed Babbitt in front of a crowd of rioters trying to get through a door leading to where members of Congress were being evacuated on the House side of the building....

"The bravery shown by the Lieutenant in organizing and coordinating the defense of the House and its members and staff was nothing short of heroic," Schamel said. "The Lieutenant's conduct saved lives and helped to end the violent insurrection."

In a statement released Monday, the Capitol Police said the officer's actions were consistent with the officer's training and department policy, which states that deadly force may be used "only when the officer reasonably believes that action is in the defense of human life, including the officer's own life, or in the defense of any person in immediate danger of serious physical injury."...