KTLA

Woman killed in Capitol riot shooting ID’d by family as San Diego resident

A San Diego woman was identified by her husband as the person who was shot and killed by police Wednesday afternoon when pro-Trump rioters breached the U.S. Capitol building, according to KTLA sister station KSWB in San Diego.

The husband of 35-year-old Ashli Babbitt confirmed to KSWB that his wife was killed in the violence at the Capitol. However, he said he has yet to hear from authorities on the East Coast.


Ashli Babbitt is seen in a photo provided to KSWB by her husband, Aaron Babbitt.

“She loved her country, and she was doing what she thought was right to support her country in joining up with like-minded people that also love their president and their country,” said her husband, Aaron Babbitt. “She was voicing her opinion, and she got killed for it.”

Aaron Babbitt says he sent Ashli a text asking for a “status check” and he never heard back from her. Then, says he saw images of his wife dying on the news.

Babbitt didn’t believe his wife was carrying any weapons when she was shot. 

“I don’t know why she had to die in the people’s house,” he said. “That’s our house; it’s everybody’s house.”

Officials have not yet publicly identified Babbit as the victim. In a news conference Wednesday, Metropolitan Police Department Chief Robert Contee said the woman was shot by one Capitol police officer with a service weapon after protesters breached the fencing at approximately 2:46 p.m.

She was transported to a local hospital where she died, Contee said.

The rioters stormed the Capitol Wednesday afternoon as Congress was meeting to certify Joe Biden’s election victory. Lawmakers have since reconvened to continue the process.

Follow live updates here.