Guns Drawn by Police in House Chamber as Trump Mob Takes Over Capitol

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An armed standoff occurred within the halls of Congress on Wednesday, as chaos unfolded after thousands of President Donald Trump's supporters rioted outside the U.S. Capitol building and eventually breached the facility.

Police barricaded the front doors of the House chamber while insurrectionists busted windows and attempted to storm the room. Eventually, the Capitol complex was evacuated using the underground tunnel system that leads to office buildings, as pro-Trump protesters filled nearly every inch of the entire first floor of the building, including the floors of both chambers.

The violent insurrection was in response to a joint session of Congress to certify President-elect Joe Biden's Electoral College win.

Capitol breached with armed standoff
U.S. Capitol police officers point their guns at a door that was vandalized in the House Chamber during a joint session of Congress on January 6. Congress held a joint session today to ratify President-elect... Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty

There were several reports that shots were fired, and a bloodied woman could be seen being taken out of the building on a stretcher by paramedics. Several Capitol Police were also visibly injured after clashes with insurrectionists.

The D.C. Police chief later confirmed that a civilian was shot, who reportedly died from her injuries. The D.C. National Guard was eventually called in to help quell the violence and vacate the Capitol of rioters.

Lawmakers, staff and reporters were forced to hide under desks, chairs and secure themselves in offices, as law enforcement was completely overrun by pro-Trump insurrectionists who touted the same false narrative from the outgoing president that the 2020 election was somehow rigged and stolen.

Capitol building breached
Members of congress run for cover as protesters try to enter the House Chamber during a joint session of Congress on January 6 in Washington, DC. Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty

Both the House and Senate chambers were eventually evacuated.

There were several reports of police officers being injured.

Capitol breached with armed standoff
A protester is seen hanging from the balcony in the Senate Chamber on January 6. Congress held a joint session today to ratify President-elect Joe Biden's 306-232 Electoral College win over President Donald Trump. Pro-Trump... Photo by Win McNamee/Getty

About the writer

Ramsey Touchberry is a Washington Correspondent for Newsweek based in the nation's capital, where he regularly covers Congress. 

Prior to joining Newsweek in 2018, Ramsey was a multimedia reporter at the local NPR and PBS affiliate WUFT News in Gainesville, Florida. While there, he reported for TV, radio and web, primarily focusing on local and state politics. He also investigated county animal shelters' euthanization rates and the struggles Florida felons face when re-entering society, stories that won a regional Hearst and Murrow award, respectively. In 2017, Ramsey was a USA Today College correspondent, where he reported on higher education news.

Originally from the Sunshine State, Ramsey graduated from the University of Florida in the spring of 2018 where he studied both digital and broadcast journalism. You can contact him at r.touchberry@newsweek.com and via encrypted email​ at r.touchberry@protonmail.com.


Ramsey Touchberry is a Washington Correspondent for Newsweek based in the nation's capital, where he regularly covers Congress. 

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