Woman Shot As Trump Supporters Breach US Capitol Building

Shots have been fired as angry Trump supporters breached the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday while Congress voted to certify Joe Biden’s presidential victory. D.C.Police Chief Robert J. Contee III confirmed a woman sustained a gunshot wound while inside the Capitol and had died.

Tensions at the rally rose after President Trump spoke to protesters on Wednesday morning encouraging them to march over and rally at the US Capitol hours before the building was breached. Later on, the crowd grew violent and began to swarm the exterior of the Capitol building as they pushed through its barricades.

At about 1:00 pm, protesters clashed with police who were in full riot gear as a number of aggressive rioters were able to push past them. USA Today reported that hundreds of people broke into the building and filtered through Statuary Hall.

Reports from various media sources confirmed that both protesters and police have drawn guns and shots have been fired into the Senate chamber.

An armed standoff took place around 3:00pm at the House front door with police officers drawing their guns at those who tried to get inside.

A woman who tried to breach the Capitol grounds was shot in the chest and had died. Meanwhile, multiple officers have also been injured with at least one transported to the hospital for treatment.

The halls of America’s most iconic building permeated with tear gas as lawmakers were locked down inside their chambers.

According to updates from CNN, the Capitol building was forced into a lockdown while D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser ordered a district-wide curfew starting at 6pm ET. Only first responders and essential workers are exempted from the curfew.

Vice President Mike Pence, who was presiding over the session, was ushered out of the Capitol while members of Congress were evacuated with many of them escorted through its underground tunnels often used by staff to travel between buildings. The session has been forced into recess out of safety concerns.

The Senate floor was cleared of rioters by 3:30pm as police were able to successfully squeeze them away from the Senate wing as well as the East and West doors of the Capitol. Washington Police amassed in a long line to push the rioting mob away from the Capitol grounds. It is not clear if the rioters who breached the building have been taken into custody. The Capitol was returned to its secured state at around 5:40 pm.