Tear gas is released into a crowd of protesters during clashes with Capitol police at a rally to contest the certification of the 2020 U.S. presidential election results by the U.S. Congress, at the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, January 6, 2021.
Shannon Stapleton | Reuters
Four people died amid the riot at the U.S. Capitol building, Washington, D.C., Police Chief Robert Contee said Wednesday, after a horde of supporters of President Donald Trump sought to prevent the confirmation of Joe Biden’s electoral victory.
The deaths included a woman who was shot, as well as one other woman and two men who died from “medical emergencies,” said Contee, who spoke at a press conference Wednesday evening.
The chief said the internal affairs division is investigating the shooting. Contee said they are still determining exact details of the three other deaths.
At least fourteen police officers sustained injuries with multiple still in the hospital, Contee said. One officer had serious injuries from being pulled into a crowd where he was assaulted, he added.
“This is a tragic incident and I send my condolences to the victims’ family and friends,” Contee said.
Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser announced a curfew of 6 p.m. Wednesday through 6 a.m. Thursday. The mayor also declared an extension of a “public emergency” for the next 15 days, which would go through inauguration day.
