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A U.S. Capitol Police officer is on life support after being hit on the head with a fire extinguisher during riots on Wednesday, according to a report.
Four people were fatally injured in the chaos in Washington, DC, where masses of Trump supporters easily passed police into the Capitol building.
A source told NewsNation Now that a rioter assaulted the officer with the fire extinguisher.
Initial reports indicated that the officer had died, but in a statement to a reporter from WUSA 9, Capitol Police Union president Gus Papathanasiou said the cop was still on life support.
Reacting to the officer’s injury, Minnesota Rep. Dean Phillips wrote on Twitter: “My heart goes out to the officer’s family and to all who risk their lives every day to protect and serve our communities with dignity and principles.
More than 50 police officers from the Capitol and the Metropolitan Police Department were injured on Wednesday, authorities said.
Chaos inside the halls of the historic legislative building led to the death of Ashli Babbitt, an Air Force veterinarian who was shot and killed by Capitol Police.
Three other people died of medical injuries during Wednesday’s unrest.
They were identified Thursday by police and media as Kevin Greeson, 55, of Alabama, Benjamin Phillips, 50, of Pennsylvania, and Rosanne Boyland, 34, a resident of Georgia.
News of the officer’s death came when Capitol Hill Police Chief Steven Sund announced his resignation.
Sund will step down on January 16, according to an NBC News report.
Capitol Police came under fire after appearing ill-prepared by Wednesday’s unruly crowd.
Footage from the scene shows police standing back and allowing protesters to walk through metal barricades and toward the Capitol.
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