A cold-blooded killer was allowed to justify his decision to murder a U.S. veteran and Trump suppo
Police Lieutenant Michael Byrd, a 28-year veteran of the U.S. Capitol Police Department, has publicly come forward as the man who murdered Ashli Babbitt, the Jan. 6 protester who was killed after trying to escape the Speaker’s Lobby through a broken glass window.
During an interview, which aired late Thursday, Byrd said that it was his job to protect the lawmakers and staff in the area — of whom there were about 60 to 80 people — and that he believes that he made the right decision.
NOW: Join us on @NBCNightlyNews for @LesterHoltNBC's exclusive interview with Lieutenant Michael Byrd — the U.S. Capitol Police officer who shot and killed Ashli Babbitt while defending the U.S. House chamber during the Capitol attack. pic.twitter.com/mgub2ZcYdQ
— NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt (@NBCNightlyNews) August 26, 2021
During the riot, said Byrd, his police radio provided updates about the developing situation. One update said officers were down, and another said that there were shots fired — although he later said he learned that the shots fired update wasn’t true.
The doorway was barricaded with furniture, and Byrd, tasked with protecting lawmakers, says he was “essentially trapped” in place along with everyone else.
The crowd later approached the barricade. Byrd told NBC News that he couldn’t get an accurate count of how many people were on the other side there because of it, and had repeatedly told the crowd to get back. When Byrd saw another person — later identified as 35-year-old Ashli Babbitt — starting to come through the glass, he fired his gun.
He never determined whether Babbitt was armed or unarmed.
Earlier this year, the Department of Justice closed the investigation into Byrd, and more recently, the U.S. Capitol Police determined that his actions were within department policy and that he would not face discipline.
Byrd denied that there were any other motivations behind the shooting and told NBC News that he has also protected former President Donald Trump in the past.
Does anyone remember Officer Byrd shooting down an unarmed Biden supporter during one of thier summer riots in Washington D.C.?
Author: Elizabeth Tierney
