WE ARE HERE TO VINDICATE HER CIVIL RIGHTS

The shooting of Ashli Babbitt on January 6, 2021, by an unidentified U.S. Capitol Police Lieutenant was an unjustified use of deadly force which violated her constitutional rights. Video footage shows that Ashli was not an immediate threat to the officer or anyone else as she stepped into a window leading to the Speaker’s Lobby and was shot and killed.

At 5' 2" tall and 115 pounds, Ashli could have been stopped by a single trained officer. The officer who decided to shoot her was not alone: there were over a half-dozen police officers on Ashli’s side of the door and several more on his side. In short, the use of deadly force served no legitimate law enforcement purpose, and violated her clearly established constitutional right against the use of excessive force.

On top of this, Ashli was entitled to a warning and chance to surrender before she was shot to death. Witnesses confirm that the officer did not give a verbal warning prior to firing. Due to the officer’s decision to conceal himself in a side room off the lobby, it is evident that she was unaware of the officer’s presence. The shooting was tantamount to an execution without trial, and violated ordinary standards of decency that exist in any civilized country. As a veteran who served in combat zones abroad and risked her life for her country, she deserved better.

To date, the officer who shot Ashli has not been identified. Neither the Capitol Police nor any other governmental authority has given an account of the facts surrounding the shooting. There has been no official explanation or justification for the use of lethal force in this matter. This lack of transparency impedes public scrutiny which is necessary to hold government officials accountable in a free society and it denies Ashli's family the ability to hold the officer and the Capitol Police responsible for their wrongdoing.

My law firm and I represent Ashli’s husband and family members. We have filed a lawsuit against District of Columbia on behalf of Ashli's husband, Aaron Babbitt to obtain investigative records including the name of the police officer that killed Ashli and surveillance video from inside the Capitol. Additionally, we have done extensive investigation in preparation for lawsuits that will be filed against U.S. Capitol Police and the police officer that took Ashli's life.

The legal expenses in a case such as this stand to be significant. Your contribution will be used to offset expenses related to engaging professionals and other consultants with expertise in use of force, police procedure, security and computer forensic analysis, medical professionals, and other legal and technological specialties.

We want to thank each and every person that have reached out to us. We are overwhelmed by the outpouring of support received by Ashli's family and the legal team. Your gracious words and contributions are appreciated more than words can adequately describe.
We invite you to follow us on our Twitter Page for news and updates: Justice For Ashli Babbitt, @ForAshli

Terrell Roberts,
Roberts and Wood Law Firm
Attorney for Estate of Ashli E. Babbitt

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