The husband of a woman shot and killed by police when supporters of President Donald Trump attempted a coup at the Capitol said his wife was just trying to express her beliefs. Aaron Babbit told Fox San Diego that 35-year-old Ashli Babbit, of San Diego, went to Washington, D.C., to participate in a protest Wednesday intended to block Congress from certifying President-elect Joe Biden's election win. Ashli spent 14 years serving in the D.C. National Guard and as a “high-level security official” in the U.S. Air Force, her husband said.
“She loved her country and she was doing what she thought was right to support her country, joining up with like-minded people that also love their president and their country,” he told Fox San Diego. “She was voicing her opinion and she got killed for it,” he added. Aaron said authorities had not confirmed with him that his wife was in fact the woman shot but when he checked on her status with a message about 30 minutes before the shooting, he didn't get a response. "She didn't have any weapons on her. I don't know why she had to die in the people's house. It's our house. It's everybody's house, doesn't matter if you're Democrat or Republican," he said. "I don't know why she had to die inside the house. I saw pictures. I had to see the pictures of my wife dying on the news."
Babbitt was the chief executive officer of Fowler’s Pool Service & Supply, Inc. in Spring Valley, which is about 15 miles east of San Diego, according to business records The San Diego Union-Tribune obtained. Her husband is the business’ chief financial officer, the newspaper reported.
The day before the shooting, Ashli tweeted in response to an account declaring that Trump “is still our president” that “Nothing will stop us….” “They can try and try and try but the storm is here and it is descending upon DC in less than 24 hours….dark to light!” Ashli reportedly said in the tweet the New York Post discovered. Using the handle CommonAshSense, she also retweeted a since-suspended message that the Post reported called for Chief Justice John Roberts’ resignation and Vice President Mike Pence’s resignation as well as treason charges against Pence. And in another tweet, this time responding to conservative author Melissa Tate Monday, Ashli said she will be in DC tomorrow and wished the writer "Gods speed!"
Robin Babbitt, Ashli's mother-in-law, told the Post she's "numb" after her daughter-in-law’s death. “I’m devastated. Nobody from DC notified my son and we found out on TV,” Robin said. “She is a Trump supporter.” Robin also told a Fox DC reporter: “I really don't know why she decided to do this.” Ashli's brother-in-law, Justin, told the Post: “It’s hard, because we haven’t been officially notified.”
Timothy McEntee, Ashli Babbitt's ex-husband, told the Union-Tribune Ashli was "a wonderful woman with a big heart and a strong mind" and that they served in the Air Force together from April 2015 to May 2019. She remarried that year, the Union-Tribune reported of the woman’s Facebook page. “I am in a state of shock and feel absolutely terrible for her family,” McEntee wrote. “She loved America with all her heart. It’s truly a sad day.” McEntire said he “immediately” recognized Ashli from viral video clips of a person climbing through a broken window at the Capitol just before a gunshot sounded. A woman is shown in the video falling onto the floor as others shout for help.
(WARNING: This video contains profanity and violent footage of the shooting that may not be suitable for all readers.)
Metropolitan Police Department Chief Robert Contee, who hasn’t identified the woman fatally shot, explained at a press conference Wednesday that an officer fired at her after 2:45 PM when protesters “breached fencing along the Capitol grounds and confronted police lines surrounding the building.” “Multiple individuals forced entry into the Capitol building and attempted to gain access to the House ... room, which was still in session,” Contee said. “They were confronted by plainclothes U.S. Capitol police officers, at which time one Capitol police officer discharged their service weapon striking an adult female.” She was taken to a local hospital, where she later died, Contee said.
The attempted coup resulted in 52 arrests: four for carrying pistols without licenses, one arrest for the possession of a prohibited weapon, and 47 arrests related to curfew violations and unlawful entry. Two pipe bombs were recovered, one from the Democratic National Committee and one from the Republican National Committee, Contee said. A cooler from a vehicle with a long-gun in it included Molotov cocktails on Capitol grounds, Contee said. Another woman and two men also died after suffering “separate medical emergencies,” Contee said. Fourteen Metropolitan Police Department officers were injured during the riot. “One member suffered serious injuries after he was pulled into a crowd and assaulted,” Contee said. “He is currently hospitalized and undergoing testing for treatment for his injuries.” Another officer was hospitalized following a significant injury in the face when he was hit with a projectile, the chief said.
Mayor Muriel Bowser extended for 15 days a public emergency declared Wednesday. Bowser's statement on extending the public emergency order:
"Today, First Amendment protests turned violent. Many persons came to the District armed and for the purpose of engaging in violence and destruction and have engaged in violence and destruction. They have fired chemical irritants, bricks, bottles, and guns. They have breached the security of the Capitol and their destructive and riotous behavior has the potential to spread beyond the Capitol. Their motivation is ongoing. Today, they sought to disrupt the Congressional proceedings relating to the acceptance of electoral college votes. President Trump continues to fan rage and violence by contending that the Presidential election was invalid. Persons are dissatisfied with judicial rulings and the findings of State Boards of Elections, and some persons can be expected to continue their violent protests through the inauguration."
The FBI is working to identify individuals who instigated the violence in D.C. “We are accepting tips and digital media depicting rioting or violence in and around the U.S. Capitol on January 6,” the agency tweeted Thursday.