UNJUSTIFIED KILLING? A new frame-by-frame video analysis from the January 6 riot appears to show that Ashli Babbitt desperately tried to prevent rioters from vandalizing the doors leading to the Speaker’s Lobby at the U.S. Capitol shortly before being shot and killed by Capitol Police Lieutenant Michael Byrd.
SEE ALSO: Police Documents Reveal New Questions Into Death of Ashli Babbitt
A report from Epoch Times says that Babbitt, who was unarmed and had served in the U.S. Air Force as a military police officer, “was chatting with three officers from U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia (MPDC).”
Eyewitness John Sullivan, a leftist BLM activist who was only feet away from Babbitt when she was killed said:
About five minutes prior to her getting shot and killed, all of those officers, Officer Yetter and the other officers in the hall, the MPD cops, they were all joking with her and laughing with her. They were having conversations and joking and laughing. Then not even five minutes later, Michael Byrd comes and executes her.
According to The Epoch Times (ET):
Video footage shot by John Sullivan, also known as Jayden X, shows that Babbitt tried to stop the violence against the Speaker’s Lobby at least four times before she climbed into a broken window and was shot by U.S. Capitol Police Lt. Michael Byrd. At one point, she was so distressed at the violence, she jumped up and down in frustration.
You can check out the video here.
Sullivan explained that:
We didn’t know anything about the building we were in. She turned the corner and I just followed her. A big group of people followed us after I followed her. People just kind of emerged on the door. By that time, she was stuck in the corner.
“She was literally trapped there,” Hansen added.
The video also shows Babbitt confronting rioter Zachary Alam, leaning in between him and one of the police officers guarding the doors. Alam turned away from Babbitt and punched a window to the side of the officer’s head.
Ashli Babbitt with looks of shock and concern over vandalism by rioters at the Speaker’s Lobby doors. Babbitt tried to stop rioters from breaking down the doors. She was shot just moments later.
SEE ALSO: Judge Holds Jail Officials in Contempt Over Jan. 6 Riot Case
ET reports that an audio analysis of video footage taken in the hallway reveals that Babbitt shouted, “Stop! No! Don’t! Wait!” according to her husband, Aaron Babbitt.
The Epoch Times adds:
Babbitt feared for her life, her husband said, so she climbed into the broken window to escape. Byrd shot her before she got more than partway into the window frame.
“The only way we’d ever know why Ashli felt the window was the only way out is if she had been detained by one of the countless police officers that abandoned their post in front of those doors,” Babbitt said. “That did not happen. She was murdered and robbed of the chance to tell her side of the story.”
Biden’s Department of Justice cleared Byrd of criminal culpability in the shooting death without ever questioning him or taking a statement, according to investigative records and the Babbitt family attorney, reported ET. (RELATED: The Hypocrisy Surrounding January 6th)
* NOTE – I was at the Capitol on January 6 as a security advisor to a foreign media TV news crew. In a piece I wrote the next day, I condemned the violence while insisting it was a riot not a coup or insurrection.
I also wrote about Babbitt, based on the available information at the time, saying: “While saddened by her death, which must be investigated, she should not be turned into a martyr. She was a victim, but also a misguided perpetrator.”
While I still believe she should not have joined the mob that day inside the Capitol, as more information becomes available, I’m seeing her much more as a victim than a perpetrator. And the full truth about her and her death must be revealed.
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of American Liberty News.
Paul Crespo is the Managing Editor of American Liberty Defense News. As a Marine Corps officer, he led Marines, served aboard ships in the Pacific and jumped from helicopters and airplanes. He was also a military attaché with the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) at U.S. embassies worldwide. He later ran for state and federal office, taught political science, wrote for the editorial board of a major newspaper and had his own radio show. A graduate of Georgetown, London and Cambridge universities, he brings decades of experience and insight to the issues that most threaten our American liberty – at home and from abroad. To read more go to: paulcrespo.com.
now after being warned 3 separate times that lethal force would be used and those next to her telling her they are not going to shoot anyone and then she was shot climbing through a window that she was warned not to climb through by the people on the other side of that window. The officer was doing what he was instructed to do shoot anyone trying to enter the chamber, as it should be.
I would like to know where you got that information about shooting anyone who tries to enter. That type order is not given lightly. Even most military bases except certain high security zones on a base dont have that type order. You admit there were several police present so why was lethal force the first option? It isnt even the first option on the street with police.
How was it then that Byrd is the only officer present that either received that order or choose to carry it out? Who gave the order?
Are you sure you arent repeating what you heard someone say?
Byrd should get life in prison with no chance for parole. He knew exactly who he was shooting and for all the wrong reasons. Babbitt did nothing wrong, but in fact that trying to stop the Antifa people from the damage they were doing. He shot her in COLD BLOOD. How could that evil cop get cleared of anything? Charges should be brought on him immediately as we have the proof. All the truth should come out which would prove this was all a set up, most happening while TRUMP was speaking to about a million people 55 minutes away. Nancy denied national guard as she knew this was set up by Sorus using Antifa and BLM, which bragged in video and on line they were paid $70,000 to help destroy TRUMP so the states would not get to do what they should have, decide the fate. Now state by state, has coming to light, the biggest election fraud in history. America may go under to communism by the demon possessed DEM party. GOD help America.