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.

US Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman hailed as hero for bravely standing up to rioters



A U.S. Capitol Police officer is being hailed as a hero for valiantly standing up to an angry mob of rioters during the storming of the Capitol and leading them away from U.S. senators.

Officer Eugene Goodman singlehandedly faced down several rioters last Wednesday on the second floor of the Capitol. In a video posted to social media, Goodman can be seen confronting a mob of Trump supporters in a stairwell, and then baiting them to follow him up the stairwell and through several hallways. He leads them to a room where several other police officers back him up and confront the rioters.

Eugene Goodman deserves the Medal of Valor! He could have stepped aside and let Trump insurgents get to the Senate… https://t.co/HgrFZngKuo
— Ben Crump (@Ben Crump)1610324608.0

But what wasn't immediately apparent is how his actions may have saved the lives of several U.S. senators.

In the video taken by HuffPost reporter Igor Bobic, there's a point at which Goodman reaches the top of the stairs and backs into a hallway as the rioters approach him from the staircase. He looks to his left, where between two chairs is a doorway that leads to the entrance of the Senate floor.

At the time, the Senate was still in session. Debate was occurring over whether the Senate would accept the Electoral College results from Arizona when members of the Secret Service escorted Vice President Mike Pence from the chamber. Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) was interrupted in the middle of a speech as senators were forced to evacuate the premises to escape the mob.

This @NYTimes photo of @CapitolPolice Officer Eugene Goodman facing down a mob by himself is breathtaking... https://t.co/vBEYJerd5V
— Andrew Feinberg (@Andrew Feinberg)1610311370.0

Just outside, Officer Goodman was confronting the rioters. When he saw that they were quickly approaching the Senate floor, he shoved the leader of the crowd to gain his attention. After the rioters' attention was focused on Goodman, he led them down the hall, away from the Senate chamber, giving lawmakers time to escape.

This moment in ⁦@igorbobic⁩ stunning footage. In front of the officer, coming up the stairs, is a mass of rioters.… https://t.co/x4TQWdiK5F
— Kristin Wilson (@Kristin Wilson)1610291696.0

The leader of the rioters, seen wearing a QAnon T-shirt, was identified as Doug Jensen of Iowa. After the events at the Capitol, he was arrested by local authorities and the FBI and faces federal charges.

Goodman, an Iraqi War veteran, is winning praise as a hero for his bravery.

"Last Wednesday, I was inside the Senate chamber when Officer Eugene Goodman led an angry mob away from it at great personal risk," Sen. Bob Casey (D-Penn.) tweeted. "His quick thinking and decisive action that day likely saved lives, and we owe him a debt of gratitude."

Last Wednesday, I was inside the Senate chamber when Officer Eugene Goodman led an angry mob away from it at great… https://t.co/jNTtI13QXs
— Senator Bob Casey (@Senator Bob Casey)1610382588.0

Massachusetts cop rings in the new year by helping woman in labor deliver a 'healthy baby girl'



A Massachusetts police officer is winning praise for heroically helping a woman in labor bring a new life into the new year.

Agawam Police Officer Zack Hall was on duty on New Year's Day when he responded to an emergency call around 2:45 a.m. A woman had contacted emergency authorities after going into labor without time to get to the hospital.

"Officer Hall quickly responded and helped mom deliver this healthy baby girl," the Agawam Police Department said in a Facebook post. "Congratulations, Mom, Dad, and baby Sophia!"

Officer's Hall's wife Melissa, who is also a police officer, responded with a comment praising her husband: "My hubs!!! So proud of him!!! Congrats to the parents!!!"

"[H]e was literally beaming," the department wrote back. "It was good to see! Its a nice change-a happy call instead of the usual stuff!! Happy New Years! Stay safe!"

"We're all proud of him," the department added.

In an interview with People magazine after the extraordinary birthday, Hall said the moment was surreal and was "unlike anything I've ever felt."

"I was there to help bring a new life brought into this world, all while trying to remain calm for the nervous parents," he said. "I feel proud and lucky that I had the opportunity to help this family and their beautiful new baby. It's not something many police officers witness."

Officer Hall described the encounter and explained at first he wasn't nervous because he didn't immediately understand how close the mother was to giving birth. But then things started to happen very quickly.

"It was when I saw the baby's father running out of the house that I realized the mother was about to give birth at any moment. I just ran into the house ready to help," he explained. "As a cop, you don't really have the time to focus on nerves or emotions. We just do what we are trained to do."

Melissa Hall told People that she wasn't surprised that her husband acted quickly, noting that police officers receive training for these types of situations.

"We go through first responder training that helps us in such a situation, but we never really expect to be a part of such a special moment," she said. "I am so proud of him and everything he does for the community every day. ... I know he truly loves being able to help others.

"Anyone can clearly see how he's beaming with pride in that photo, as he should be," she added, referring to the photo posted by the APD. "He didn't hesitate to help those parents or their newborn baby and helped bring a new life into this world. What a way to ring in the new year!"

Zack Hall hopes that this story will give people a more positive image of the police and remind them of the good work that they do.

"There are good and bad people in this society that we, as police, interact with every single day — just as there are good and bad police officers that the public interacts with every single day," he said. "It's so nice to get positive feedback from the community, especially during a time when most of what the world seems to focus on lately is only the negative.

"At the end of the day, all cops want to do is help make their communities a little bit better for future generations," he continued. "As nice as it is for everyone to acknowledge my actions, it should also be acknowledged the bravery of the parents in such a crazy situation. We were all in it together, and I couldn't be happier for them."