4 officers across America gunned down in cold blood in 2 days



Four young law enforcement officers at departments across the country were gunned down in cold blood, while several more were shot and at least one officer died in a tragic accident, all in about a week.

Virginia Beach, Virginia

Officers Cameron Girvin and Christopher Reese of the Virginia Beach Police Department were paired together for the midnight patrol shift on Friday. They hopped in a police cruiser, and away they went.

Just before 11:30 p.m., they spotted a blue Hyundai Sonata with expired tags and attempted to pull the vehicle over. However, the driver, later identified as 42-year-old John McCoy III of Virginia Beach, did not cooperate.

Girvin and Reese managed to corner McCoy on a dead-end street, where the suspect eventually stopped and exited his car after repeated requests. At that point, the suspect and the two officers got into a "tussle" that soon went horribly wrong, according to Virginia Beach Police Chief Paul Neudigate.

During the encounter, the suspect began firing a gun, striking both officers, who immediately fell to the ground. While the two officers were wounded and "defenseless," the suspect fired another round at each of them, the chief claimed, citing bodycam and police vehicle camera footage.

"I can tell you from the video that after he executed our officers, he calmly walked away," Neudigate said at a press conference.

Girvin and Reese were each raced to the hospital. Reese, 30, succumbed to his injuries almost immediately, while Girvin, 25, passed away at around 4:30 p.m. on Saturday.

'Their sacrifice is a painful reminder of the daily dangers our officers face and their unwavering commitment to serve with honor and integrity.'

The suspect, McCoy, was later found in the area, dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. "At no time did any of our officers fire shots," Neudigate said.

Another person was also in McCoy's vehicle during the traffic stop. That individual has not been identified or charged with any crime.

Girvin joined the VBPD in 2020, while Reese joined in 2022 after spending a few years at the county sheriff's office. Both "had stellar reputations in our department, and their work ethic was beyond reproach," Neudigate stated, his voice quaking with emotion.

"These officers were not just members of this department; they were family, friends, and heroes. Their sacrifice is a painful reminder of the daily dangers our officers face and their unwavering commitment to serve with honor and integrity," read a Facebook post memorializing the two fallen officers.

York, Pennsylvania

Andrew Duarte, 30, of the West York Borough Police Department died in a shoot-out at a hospital just a few hours after the Virginia Beach incident and about 300 miles to the north, in York, Pennsylvania.

According to reports, at 10:35 a.m. on Saturday, 42-year-old Diogenes Archangel Ortiz of York walked into the intensive care unit at UPMC Memorial Hospital, carrying a semiautomatic weapon and zip ties. He managed to restrain one female staffer using the zip ties and fired several rounds, striking a doctor, a nurse, and a custodian. Another staff member was injured in a fall sustained while attempting to escape to safety.

'I have a type A personality and like to succeed in all that I do.'

Duarte and other officers representing 10 different jurisdictions raced to the scene and began engaging with the shooter, who held the female staffer at gunpoint. More gunfire erupted, and Duarte and two other officers were struck.

Unfortunately, Duarte never recovered.

Duarte served as a police officer in Denver before joining the West York force in 2022. "I have a type A personality and like to succeed in all that I do," he wrote on his LinkedIn profile.

At a press conference on Saturday afternoon, York County Deputy District Attorney Tim Barker provided more information about the suspect and victims. According to Barker, Ortiz had visited someone in the ICU earlier in week and interacted with staff during his time there. When he returned on Saturday, he specifically targeted ICU workers, Barker claimed.

When asked whether Duarte was shot by the suspect or by "friendly fire," Barker replied only that that the investigation into the shooting is ongoing.

The doctor suffered only a surface wound. The nurse and custodian were more critically injured and had to undergo surgery. They were said to be in stable condition Saturday afternoon, as were the two injured officers.

"Our prayers and deepest condolences go out to West York Borough Police Officer, Andrew Duarte's family and all of our brothers and sisters in the West York Borough Police Department that have lost a comrade and friend, and furthermore our fellow Borough agencies that have lost a colleague. Our community grieves the loss of a hero," said a Facebook post from the borough.

Terry, Mississippi

On Sunday evening, less than 48 hours after the shooting in Virginia Beach, a sheriff's deputy in Mississippi was shot and killed responding to a call in Terry, just 15 miles south of Jackson.

Hinds County Sheriff Tyree Jones said he had been working on a call with Deputy Martin Shields Jr. about a capsized boat in Terry on Sunday evening. About 15 minutes later, Shields and another deputy left to respond to a call about a domestic disturbance elsewhere in the small town of just 1,000 residents.

When the two deputies arrived at a residence on Midway Road, they were almost immediately met with gunfire. The suspect in the case is 42-year-old Eric Brown.

Two women, one of whom is Brown's wife, were struck by bullets as they tried to flee the scene. They were taken to the University of Mississippi Medical Center for treatment. Their current condition is unknown.

'He fulfilled his assignment and his God-given mission on earth.'

A BOLO alert was issued for Brown but quickly canceled after an "unidentified black male subject believed to be related to the call" was discovered deceased inside the Terry residence. Police have not confirmed whether the man was Brown.

Shields' companion was not injured in the shooting. Sadly, however, Shields was fatally struck. He was just 37 years old and had been with the sheriff's office nine months after working in law enforcement elsewhere.

"Neither of us knew that when we shook hands and smiled on a call where we both responded regarding a capsized boat in the Pearl River in Terry, the very next call would be his last. I shook his hand, thanked him, he smiled, and we departed," Sheriff Jones later wrote in tribute to Shields on social media.

"Deputy Shields died a hero. He died while responding to a call for service to assist someone in need. He fulfilled his assignment and his God-given mission on earth."

Other incidents

These fatal incidents were hardly the only attacks on the blue this week. At least six others were shot, according to Joe Gamaldi, vice president of the national Fraternal Order of Police.

Yet another law enforcement officer died on February 17 when a snowplow accidentally hit Nebraska State Patrol Trooper Kyle McAcy, 31, while he was standing outside his patrol car parked on I-80. He had served on the force for a decade.

Roxi, a K-9 police dog, was also killed in the line of duty earlier this month in Miami-Dade. She died in a vehicle crash while officers pursued a suspect.

Angel Maysonet, a former NYPD detective and fierce "Back the Blue" advocate, believes the recent violence against cops begins with failed political leadership.

"We have criminals who are emboldened to commit violence due to the lack of consequences and the anti-police vitriol in America. When politicians pretend to care about law enforcement, let's look at their track records. They virtue-signal about January 6, claiming that they care, but they will not go on any news outlet to mourn our police or call for the attacks on law enforcement to stop, unless it fits their narrative," Maysonet said in a statement to Blaze News.

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Motorcycle cops injured during Trump shooting removed from unit, possibly as punishment



Two members of the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police motorcycle unit who were injured during the shooting that nearly claimed the life of former President Donald Trump have been transferred elsewhere, possibly as punishment for assisting with Trump's security detail without receiving proper authorization, according to an exclusive report from WPXI.

In the lead-up to Trump's fateful rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, the Pennsylvania State Police asked the Pittsburgh police department to provide some motorcycle officers who could help escort Trump's motorcade from the airport in Allegheny County to the rally site and back again. The department offered 10 such officers.

Some in the department were also apparently frustrated that the officers joined Trump's detail when first lady Jill Biden was also in town and needed security for her motorcade.

Four of those 10 officers were wounded by shrapnel during the shooting that struck Trump in the ear and killed former fire chief Corey Comperatore. Despite their injuries, those officers were captured on video assisting others. They were eventually treated at the scene, though one officer did go to the hospital for further treatment.

Days later, two of the wounded motorcycle officers — both of whom were supervisors — were transferred to other divisions in the bureau. One was assigned to Zone 1 on the North Side and the other to Zone 3 in Allentown, WPXI reported.

The bureau contends that the officers never received permission to assist with Trump's security detail, though the officers allege that they did, sources told WPXI.

Some in the department were also apparently frustrated that the officers joined Trump's detail when first lady Jill Biden was also in town and needed security for her motorcade. Without enough city officers, motorcycle cops from local universities were dispatched to assist with Biden's retinue.

Thus far, the bureau has been tight-lipped about the reasons for the officers' transfer. On the order formalizing the transfers, Police Chief Larry Scirotto noted only that they had been made "for the good of the bureau."

"This was an administrative decision made by the Chief," said a statement from spokesperson Cara Cruz. "Per the [Fraternal Order of Police] contract, I am unable to speak to the reasons behind the move as it involves personnel."

Fraternal Order of Police President Bob Swartzwelder suggested that bureau leaders have focused on "petty" issues rather than support the officers who were wounded in the line of duty: "In a time when we should be honoring the heroics of these officers, we’ve created some petty administrative investigation in the midst of a serious political race."

Blaze News reached out to the local FOP for further comment but did not receive a response.

H/T: Sean Davis of the Federalist

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NYC council members should not attend funeral for slain cop, union boss says



The leader of a union representing some of New York's finest has warned certain leaders in New York City to avoid the funeral for one of their fallen brothers this coming weekend.

Vincent J. Vallelong, the president of the NYC Sergeants Benevolent Association, had strong words for members of the New York City Council regarding the "completely avoidable death" of 31-year-old NYPD Officer Jonathan Diller. "The Council members who are vehemently and inexplicably against public safety are responsible for the carnage in the streets," Vallelong said, according to the New York Post.

On Monday, Diller, a three-year veteran of the force, was shot and killed during a routine traffic stop in Queens, leaving behind a wife, Stephanie, and a 1-year-old child. According to reports, his suspected killer, 34-year-old Guy Rivera, has 21 prior arrests to his name.

A funeral for Diller will be held at St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church in Massapequa on Saturday morning. Vallelong worries that city council members might attend the funeral — and perhaps even "shed a few crocodile tears" — because it presents a "good photo opportunity." Villelong claimed their presence at the funeral would be "a stain on the legacy of a true hero who made the ultimate sacrifice."

Vallelong also claimed that, all too often, council members' "words of sympathy and empathy" at such moments ring "hollow and untrue." He even suggested that any council members "who have declared war on the police" were at least "morally responsible" for Diller's death and "should be the ones ... investigated."

"Despite their admonitions to the contrary, the 'leadership' in the Council has failed city residents, workers, and visitors at every turn. They are blinded by their own hatred and twisted ideology."

The Survivors of the Shield, an organization of NYPD widows and widowers, announced that it had begun fundraising for Diller's wife and child. "We know what Stephanie and [her son] are going through because we’ve all been there," the group's statement said.

Rivera, the man suspected of killing Diller, was likewise wounded during the incident and remains hospitalized but is expected to recover. During treatment, medical professionals reportedly discovered a small shiv lodged in his rectum.

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Squires: Are conservatives and cops on the verge of a big breakup?



The impact of COVID on old alliances and governing principles is becoming increasingly bipartisan.

The left abandoned its commitment to “my body, my choice” personal autonomy and supported firing first responders and medical professionals for vaccine refusal one year after calling them “heroes” during the height of the pandemic.

Now COVID is forcing conservatives to reconsider their relationship with one of their most important constituency groups — the police.

The “Back the Blue” ethos that has animated the Republican Party for decades has been challenged by police in this country and around the world whom people see as enforcement agents of draconian COVID policies. Reports of Canadian law enforcement seizing vehicles and fuel during the trucker protests in Ottawa as well as images of violent clashes between police and protesters may be the final straw for the right.

Kurt Schlichter, a senior columnist for conservative website Townhall, asked the following question on Twitter:

“Conservatives, has the willingness of law enforcement to carry out the orders of leftist politicians since COVID began affected your willingness to ‘back the blue'?"

Of the 5,400 people who responded, only 5% said they fully support the police, 25% said they “back the blue much less,” and 49.5% said “the cops can back themselves.”

It is hard to say how well this sample captures the views of conservative voters or politicians, but the results are still stunning. In many ways the changing dynamics between the populist right and the police are similar to the GOP’s changing relationship to big business. Law and order, like the free market, is an ideal to be pursued, not a deity to be worshiped.

Conservatives have had to rethink their blind support of corporate America because they eventually realized Fortune 500 companies have been captured by the left. Large corporations signal support for all of the trendy social justice causes and throw their weight behind specific pieces of legislation on both federal and local levels.

Delta Air Lines and Coca-Cola were two of the first companies to oppose Georgia’s new voting law in 2021. Multiple conservative governors in 2021 found themselves facing pressure from large pro-LGBT corporations like Walmart and Amazon for supporting “anti-trans” bills that would have banned puberty blockers for minors and limited participation in girls’ sports to biological females.

The conservative reorientation toward the police is equally complicated.

The right’s realignment toward law enforcement is taking place at a time when shootings, homicides, and carjackings have all increased in some of our largest cities over the past two years. Conservatives have called for a strong police response to combat the spread of violence, chaos, and disorder. They do so knowing that the same officers apprehending a murder suspect today may be enforcing a vaccine passport policy tomorrow.

As is often the case regarding matters of law and policy, race adds another layer of complexity to the issue. Derrick Bell, one of the scholars credited with creating critical race theory, believed that black people achieved civil rights victories only when they also benefited white people. Bell’s “interest convergence” theory was shaped by his views on Brown v Board of Education, but there is nothing inherently racial about people focusing their political resources on issues that impact them personally.

The problem arises when people lack the vision to see the potential boomerang effect caused by supporting policies that erode the rights of others. Conservatives who supported New York’s stop-and-frisk policy over a decade ago believed it lowered crime rates. They saw no issue with only 10% of the 532,911 stops in 2012 resulting in arrest or 2% of the 297,244 frisks finding a gun. It was easy to dismiss the concerns of largely black and Hispanic men at the time if you were someone who had no fear of being stopped on the street by police.

That bubble of immunity to harassment burst after seeing a viral video of a woman in Ohio being tased and arrested for not wearing a mask at an outdoor football game. Other images in this country and across the West since 2020 showing police cracking down on citizens protesting COVID lockdowns and vaccine mandates have had a similar effect.

This is why political coalitions should be built around shared principles and values, not hues or party affiliation. Using force to put down legitimately peaceful protests should concern civil libertarians, whether people are marching for police reform or an end to the biomedical surveillance state. The same can be said for seizing private assets from people who have not been charged with a crime, whether the action is connected to a political speech or a traffic stop.

This realignment is also a reminder that politicians who are more concerned with trying to “own” the other side or symbolism are poorly serving the people who put them in office. Over the past decade, we have seen Republicans make Colin Kaepernick’s kneeling a national issue and Democrats clad in Kente cloth kneeling in the U.S. Capitol for nearly nine minutes in memory of George Floyd. Neither led to substantive change for citizens.

Police fill a very important role in our society. Without them, we would have mob rule and anarchy. Their authority is ultimately determined by the legislators who make our laws and executives who issue orders. Some of these people are more committed to the enforcement of mandates and policing “misinformation” than violent offenses and property destruction.

The police deserve our support when they risk their lives to protect victims of crime and bring justice to law-abiding citizens. They deserve criticism when they abuse their authority and should face swift justice when they break the laws they are hired to uphold and enforce. Conservatives are being forced to balance this tension in real time. Only time will tell whether they side with red-state thought criminals or the boys in blue.

Woman charged with hate crime after stomping on Back the Blue sign, crumpling it, throwing it in trash — while 'smirking' at deputy in 'intimidating manner'



A 19-year-old Utah woman was charged with a hate crime and faces up to a year in prison after a sheriff's deputy said she stomped on a pro-law enforcement "Back the Blue" sign, crumpled it, threw it in a trash can, and ended up "smirking" at the deputy in an "intimidating manner."

What are the details?

A Garfield County sheriff's deputy on Wednesday pulled over a vehicle for speeding near a gas station on Panguitch's Main Street, the St. George News reported, citing charging documents.

"As I concluded my traffic stop and released the individuals, I observed some of the individuals' friends approach them and attempt to console them," the deputy wrote in a probable cause affidavit, the News said.

"I observed one of the friends, later identified to be Lauren Gibson, stomping on a 'Back the Blue' sign next to where the traffic stop was conducted, crumble it up in a destructive manner, and throw it into a trash can all while smirking in an intimidating manner towards me," the deputy added, according the paper.

The officer noted the woman was asked where she had gotten the sign, and she stated it was her mother's, the Salt Lake Tribune reported. The woman's mother lives in California, the News added.

With that the officer told her that the local sheriff's office produced those specific signs, and it was concluded "she had acquired [the sign] in our community," the Tribune said, citing the affidavit.

After reading the woman her Miranda rights, the officer stated she gave "inconsistent stories" about where she found the sign until she eventually said she found it on the ground, the Tribune added.

"Due to [the woman] destroying property that did not belong to her in a manner to attempt to intimidate law enforcement, I placed her under arrest," the Tribune reported, citing the affidavit.

More from the News:

Gibson was subsequently arrested and booked into Garfield County Jail on suspicion of criminal mischief, a class A misdemeanor, and disorderly conduct, an infraction.

According to the charging documents, the hate crime enhancement was applied to the criminal mischief charge "due to the demeanor displayed by Gibson in attempts to intimidate law enforcement while destroying a 'pro law enforcement' sign."

Criminal mischief is typically classified as a class B misdemeanor in Utah, punishable by up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $1,000. However, with the hate crime enhancement, the charge elevates to a class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to 364 days in jail and up to $2,500 in fines.

The applicable section of Utah State Code is 76-3-203.14, where a new section titled "Victim Targeting Penalty Enhancements" was passed into law by the Utah Legislature in 2019. Under the law's definitions, a person's status as a law enforcement officer is one of 18 different personal attributes listed which may qualify a criminal offense for a possible hate crime enhancement.

ACLU blasts hate crime charge

The American Civil Liberties Union of Utah on Monday said it's "extremely troubled and disappointed" by the decision by the Garfield County Attorney's office to issue a hate crime enhancement in this case, the News added.

"This kind of charging decision sends an extremely chilling message to the community that the government will seek harsher punishment for people charged with crimes who disagree with police actions," the ACLU said, according to the News. "This concern is even greater because we do not view the enhancement as supportable under the language of the statute. We consistently warn that enhancements are oftentimes used to single out unpopular groups or messages rather than provide protections for marginalized communities."

The ACLU's statement added that this case has "confirmed those warnings," the News said.

"Bringing a charge against this person that could result in her spending a year in jail makes no sense both in terms of simple fairness and expending the county's time and money," the organization added, according to the News.

Anything else?

The News addd that Gibson — whose place of residence has not been listed on court documents thus far — was released from custody after promising to appear to answer the charges. The paper said that although a court date hasn't been set, the case was assigned to Sixth District Judge Marvin D. Bagley.

Denzel Washington: 'I have the utmost respect for what police do, for what our soldiers do, people that sacrifice their lives'



Denzel Washington is not your typical Hollywood celebrity. The Oscar award-winning actor has talked about his Christian faith in public, once proclaiming, "There's never been a time where God didn't direct protect and correct me. There may have been times where I was less than faithful to him, but he had faith in me."

The legendary entertainer has spoken out about the importance of fathers, "If a young man doesn't have a father figure, he'll go find a father figure."

Washington even blasted the mainstream media, "In our society, now it's just first — who cares, get it out there. We don't care who it hurts. We don't care who we destroy. We don't care if it's true."

At a time when many celebrities are supporting the "defund the police" movement, Denzel is taking the very un-Hollywood-like approach of saying that he appreciates military members and doesn't want to abolish law enforcement. A basic tenet that most Americans have, but most celebrities shun.

In his illustrious acting career, Denzel Washington has played a member of law enforcement 13 times. He's been good cops like in "The Bone Collector" as quadriplegic forensics expert Lincoln Rhyme, and as bad cops, such as Detective Sergeant Alonzo Harris in "Training Day." He's even been a demonically possessed cop in "Fallen" as Detective John Hobbes.

Washington is portraying another police officer in his upcoming movie "The Little Things," where he'll play the role of Joe "Deke" Deacon, a Kern County Deputy Sheriff in California.

During an interview with Yahoo, Washington was asked about his feelings toward police officers in a time when there is so much animosity toward law enforcement.

"I have the utmost respect for what they do, for what our soldiers do, [people] that sacrifice their lives," Washington answered. "I just don't care for people who put those kind of people down. If it weren't for them, we would not have the freedom to complain about what they do."

Washington said his reverence for law enforcement goes back to early in his acting career, in the 1991 movie "Ricochet." To prepare for his role as Assistant District Attorney Nick Styles, Denzel did a ride-along with an LAPD officer that changed his whole perspective of cops.

"I went out on call with a sergeant," Washington recalled. "We got a call of a man outside his house with a rifle that was distraught. We pulled up and did a U-turn past the house and came up short of the house. He told me to sit in the car, which I was gonna do. I wasn't getting out."

"He got out. As he got out, another car came screaming up and two young people jumped out screaming," the 66-year-old actor said. "As it turned out, it was their grandfather. This policeman defused the entire situation by just remaining calm."

"But it showed me in an instant how they can lose their life," Denzel explained. "He didn't overreact. He could've pulled his gun out and shot the people that came up driving real fast. He could've shot the old man that was distraught and a bit confused, I think he was suffering a little bit from dementia."

Washington came to an epiphany, "But in an instant it taught me, and I never forgot it, what our law enforcement people have to deal with moment to moment, second to second."

Denzel isn't the only celebrity who supports good cops, media mogul Tyler Perry has said, "We need more police."

When discussing the idea of abolishing police, NBA superstar-turned-sports-commentator Charles Barkley has asked, "Who are black people supposed to call? Ghostbusters?"

DC police officer describes horrifying moment Capitol rioters wanted to 'kill him with his own gun'



A Washington, D.C., police officer who was assaulted by Trump supporters during the Jan. 6 riots at the U.S. Capitol says that some of the rioters wanted to "kill him with his own gun."

Officer Michael Fanone, a nearly 20-year veteran of the force and father of four daughters, recounted to CNN the harrowing story of how he was pulled to the ground and tased repeatedly as a violent mob surged into the Capitol building. During the assault, rioters stripped Fanone of his spare ammunition, his police radio, and even his badge. But things could have been much worse.

"Some guys started getting a hold of my gun and they were screaming out, 'Kill him with his own gun,'" Fanone said.

"Kill him with his own gun."An officer describes what the rioters said in the moment he lay on the US Capitol flo… https://t.co/kRsIjut0b1
— New Day (@New Day)1610717316.0

Fanone is a narcotics detective who typically works in plain clothes. On Jan. 6, when he learned of the chaos at the Capitol, he adorned a brand-new police uniform and raced to the riot with his partner to assist the officers who were already engaged by the crowd.

"They were overthrowing the Capitol, the seat of democracy, and I f---ing went," Fanone told the Washington Post.

Fanone and his fellow officers faced off against thousands of rioters in the West Terrace tunnel of the Capitol building.

"We weren't battling 50 or 60 rioters in this tunnel," he said as he described what it was like for police officers attempting to contain the violence. "We were battling 15,000 people. It looked like a medieval battle scene."

Police officers were attacked with metal pipes taken from the scaffolding surrounding the Capitol building. One officer was beaten by a thug wielding a flagpole with an American flag.

Fanone and his partner were struck with stun guns, and in the violence Fanone suffered a mild heart attack. He also recalls being hit by a pole with a "thin blue line" flag, highlighting the astonishing hypocrisy of these violent criminals who at one point claimed to support law and order and the police.

As his survival instincts kicked in, Fanone says he thought about using his firearm in self-defense but reasoned that even if he shot someone he could not overpower the mob and then the rioters would have an excuse to kill him.

"So, the other option I thought of was to try to appeal to somebody's humanity. And I just remember yelling out that I have kids. And it seemed to work," he said.

Some of the rioters broke off from the mob and shielded Fanone from further violence, for which the officer is partly grateful but still angry and frustrated that they were a part of the riot.

"Thank you, but f*** you for being there," he said, summarizing his feelings toward them.

Fanone's horrifying account is one of several from police officers who were victims of the mob violence on that day. By the time the riots were finally dispersed, nearly 60 police officers suffered injuries from fighting the mob. One officer, Brian Sicknick, was killed in the violence and the FBI is investigating at least 37 people in his death, seeking to charge the perpetrators with felony murder.

Law enforcement is taking extraordinary steps to secure the Capitol for President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration on Jan. 20. The FBI has warned that armed protesters are planning demonstrations in D.C. and across the nation in advance of Inauguration Day. The National Guard has reportedly been briefed on an improvised explosive device threat in D.C. after pipe bombs were discovered at the headquarters of the Republican and Democratic National Committees.

On Friday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) announced that retired Lt. Gen. Russel Honoré would be appointed to lead a thorough review of security at the Capitol.

She thanked Capitol Police for their presence at the riot "to protect our democracy."

"We must subject this whole complex though to scrutiny in light of what happened and the fact that the inauguration is coming. To that end, I have asked Retired Lt. Gen. Russell Honoré to lead an immediate review of security infrastructure, interagency processes and command and control. The general is a respected leader with experience dealing with crises," Pelosi told reporters.

Brutal brawl erupts between black bloc anarchists and 'Back the Blue' supporters in Washington



There were violent clashes in Washington's capital on Saturday during a "Back the Blue" rally when black bloc anarchists held their own counterprotest.

The Olympia Police Department released a notice: "Large group of opposing protesters started near the Capitol and are now moving through downtown Olympia. Near City Hall. The groups have dispersed into smaller groups and are moving throughout the area. Officers are monitoring to ensure things are peaceful from here forward."

The black bloc anarchists held their own event titled "Squash Fascists." The two groups baited each other throughout the day, as seen in footage from photojournalist Independent Media PDX. The black bloc members burned American flags and the "Back the Blue" supporters retaliated by burning a black umbrella, which many Antifa members carry to conceal their identities.

(Content Warning: Explicit and violent videos):

At an event labeled “Squash Fascists” Portland/ Washington Protesters gather in Olympia Washington, counter protest… https://t.co/zwPRJC3MAG
— Independent Media PDX (@Independent Media PDX)1607201589.0


Portland/ Washington protesters and counter-protesters are currently standing off at Franklin and 4th Ave. downtown… https://t.co/2IK7LTRvtt
— Independent Media PDX (@Independent Media PDX)1607207240.0


Counter protesters burn an Umbrella that belonged to Portland/ Washington protesters in response to American Flags… https://t.co/Fi2p37Ywk0
— Independent Media PDX (@Independent Media PDX)1607202538.0

At one point, a brutal brawl between the two groups erupted. Individuals dressed in all black are beaten with American and Trump flag poles.

Fight breaks out between Portland/ Washington protesters and counter protesters for Back The Blue and President Tru… https://t.co/pt2xrYVcoC
— Independent Media PDX (@Independent Media PDX)1607202174.0


Fight breaks out between Portland/ Washington protesters and counter protesters for Back The Blue and President Tru… https://t.co/3lwliTWEVH
— Independent Media PDX (@Independent Media PDX)1607204435.0


Patriots Clash With Antifa At Washington State Capitol. One shot was fired. https://t.co/Meg3cg6iiP
— Black Rebel (Andrew Duncomb) (@Black Rebel (Andrew Duncomb))1607204756.0

The Olympia Police Department said the groups "have largely dispersed." The department said, "An arrest was made for two counts of felony assault. An additional charge may be referred for reckless endangerment as well."

"We did make an arrest for a subject that appeared to fire at least one round from a handgun into the opposing crowd," the police tweeted. "Any witnesses to that crime should contact @OlyPD through the 911 system."

We did make an arrest for a subject that appeared to fire at least one round from a handgun into the opposing crowd… https://t.co/jzMRDfylAw
— Olympia Police Dept (@Olympia Police Dept)1607212894.0


Individual who fired his gun earlier in the day can be seen at the :23 second mark pointing his firearm at proteste… https://t.co/ZnNLKwh4kQ
— Independent Media PDX (@Independent Media PDX)1607214954.0

Olympia wasn't the only place where groups clashed. In St Paul, Minneapolis, groups prepared for confrontation.

Antifa militants gather in St. Paul, Minnesota to oppose a conservative rally. https://t.co/asGYLnk1I3
— Andy Ngô (@Andy Ngô)1607206644.0

In California, Black bloc militants wielded shields and chanted, "No more Proud Boys in Sacramento!" There was a heavy police presence with officers wearing riot gear. Police officers fired non-lethal munitions at rowdy demonstrators dressed in all black.

Leader of anti-Proud Boys march past 11th and L, calls out Proud Boys for allegedly harassing unhoused people at Ce… https://t.co/dkLHIySuMl
— Scott Rodd (@Scott Rodd)1607200831.0


Counter protesters shaking barricade. Officer firing what appears to be paintball-looking gun point blank at prot… https://t.co/WrpNj6CkOF
— Scott Rodd (@Scott Rodd)1607202008.0


These are the weapons Sac PD was firing into demonstrators attempting to tear down a barricade. https://t.co/CdPSdkmHJP
— Nick Miller (@Nick Miller)1607202414.0

At one point, alleged Proud Boys and black bloc members clashed. Black bloc members attacked Trump supporters and left them injured.

Proud boys and counter protesters clash outside of the California State Capitol. Proud Boys have been hosting weekl… https://t.co/MOU3bb21eT
— Denis Ivan Perez-Bravo (@Denis Ivan Perez-Bravo)1607205374.0
Crowd had gotten violent. Some descend on man and woman pro-Trump demonstrators walking down street. https://t.co/TbZzQ99IHU
— Scott Rodd (@Scott Rodd)1607205461.0