The U.S. Capitol Police officer that fatally shot Ashlibabbitt during the January 6th riot has come out and strongly defends his actions... claiming it was a last resort but necessary.
Michael Byrd, a 28-year-old veteran officer, said to Lester Holt of NBC News that his job that day was protecting scores of House members who were locked up in a room only yards from insurrectionists.
At @LesterHoltNBC Lieutenant Michael Byrd, Capitol Police describes why he chose to identify himself in an exclusive interview. Byrd tells the story of the January 6th riot. He was confronted by officers who barricaded his door, and fired one shot that killed Ashli Babbitt. pic.twitter.com/Q4n7zUqS6N NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt (@NBCNightlyNews) August 27, 2021 @NBCNightlyNews
Byrd claims that he shouted at the insurrectionists to stop, but they continued pushing. He claims that they had broken through the glass door and "they were in the House chamber and upon members of Congress".
Babbitt climbed out of a window into the Speaker's Lobby. That's when Byrd opened fire on Babbitt, striking her in the shoulder. He stated straightly that she was a threat to House members.
Byrd said, "I tried waiting as long as possible... I hoped and prayed that no one attempted to enter those doors. I had to intervene to save the lives and safety of Congressmen and myself, and of my fellow officers.
Right-wing groups have used Babbitt's death as a QAnon supporter, Air Force veteran and to create a false narrative about it, calling Byrd a killer.
