Who is Ashli Babbitt's shooter? Capitol officer's 'heroism saved lives' but identity yet to be made public
It has been more than a month since MAGA supporters ransacked the US Capitol resulting in a riot that left five people including a police officer dead. One of these five was Ashli Babbitt, a pro-Trump supporter who was shot dead by Capitol police. And now, more than a month after the riots, investigators have now recommended that no charges be pressed on the Capitol officer who fired the shot.
The identity of the officer who shot Babbitt has been kept under wraps all this while now. But recent reports reveal that investigators have now determined that the officer should not be charged with any crimes.
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The Wall Street Journal had first reported that police investigators have recommended the officer not be charged. According to a recent report in NBC News, the officer has not been identified by Capitol Police or investigators and "used clear appropriate use of force. It's not even a close call," the officer's lawyer Mark E. Schamel said, adding, "I think it's his heroism and his restraint that saved lives".
Content warning: blood
On January 6, 2021, 35-year-old Ashli Babbitt was apparently shot once, then she fell to the floor of the Capitol with blood pouring from her mouth. She was later pronounced dead and identified as Babbitt. Following the riots, Babbitt was everywhere in the news - sometimes painted as a true patriot and a martyr and other times painted collateral damage. Publications dedicated newsprint and space for her but the other person involved in the shooting was conveniently missing from the conversation - the Capitol police officer who shot her.
When speaking to The Wall Street Journal about the possibility of charges against the cop, Schamel reportedly said, "Without question he should be cleared. … There’s no way to look at the evidence and think he’s anything but a hero." Last month, the Department of Justice announced that the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia would investigate the shooting, and the officer was placed on leave. "This is routine, standard procedure whenever an officer deploys lethal force. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia is overseeing the investigation," a Justice Department spokesperson said at the time.
Which is now making many on social media furious. Why is Babbitt being paraded around by publications but the identity of the cop remains hidden. "We still don't know the name of the cop who shot an unarmed Ashli Babbitt, or the cause of Officer Sicknick's death. The media and democrat-communists are using this application of the "ongoing criminal investigation constraint" to spread lies. We have a corrupt @TheJusticeDept," one tweeted. "Why did the cop shoot Ashli Babbitt. Who shot Ashli Babbitt," another user asked. Others made it a race issue. "The officer who shot #AshliBabbitt should have their name publicized as do white cops shooting black people. If this were the case and Babbitt was black, the media would have been on it 24/7. But because she was white and backed Trump.... crickets from the national media."
We still don't know the name of the cop who shot an unarmed Ashli Babbitt, or the cause of Officer Sicknick's death. The media and democrat-communists are using this application of the "ongoing criminal investigation constraint" to spread lies.
— reversechapter (@reversechapter) February 10, 2021
We have a corrupt @TheJusticeDept.
Why did the cop shoot Ashli Babbitt. Who shot Ashli Babbitt. https://t.co/w1xtKIxq4B
— Leo J. Matthews (@LeoJMatthews1) February 10, 2021
The officer who shot #AshliBabbitt should have their name publicized as do white cops shooting black people. If this were the case and Babbitt was black, the media would have been on it 24/7. But because she was white and backed Trump.... crickets from the national media. https://t.co/N2Cnia1wjs
— Dave Thomas (@newstouse) February 10, 2021
While there is a lot of anger over who killed Babbitt on the fateful day, there is also a lot of speculation doing the rounds that the Capitol officer who pulled the trigger was a Black policeman. Other reports pointed to four possible persons of interests. But pretty much none of these could correctly identify the cop's identity. Which leaves the question relevant now more than ever. Why hide the identity of the police officer and not the victim?
Not entirely safe
A speculation one can make right off the bat that, in the wake of the January 6, 2021, riots, it was not entirely safe for authorities to reveal the true identity of the person. Babbitt's identity was made public because the FBI was looking for rioters who charged into the building unceremoniously. On top of that, there is also speculation that the Capitol officer might indeed be Black, which adds to the danger to his life.
Marsy's Law
Marsy's Law has long protected the identities of victims giving them the right to privacy. It says victims have the right to be free from intimidation and the ability to keep "information or records that could be used to locate or harass the victim or the victim’s family" from being released. But according to reports, police departments across states use it to hide the names of officers who use it on the job. According to a report in ProPublica, it is not unheard of that police departments use the law to hide identities of cops who use force especially in the state of Florida where it has been used time and again including the case of Tony McDade.
A USA TODAY and ProPublica investigation revealed that at least half of Florida’s 30 largest police agencies said they apply it to shield the names of on-duty officers. The problem is very pertinent in Florida, but the Capitol riots happened in Washington D.C.
Chances are, we might never know the identity of the police officer.