Capitol Police officers stand near a car that crashed into a barrier on Capitol Hill in Washington
(Picture: AP)The police officer killed in a car attack on the US Capitol has been named.
Officer William F. Evans was killed after a car rammed into a barricade on Independence Avenue in Washington DC at around 1pm local time. A second officer was also injured in the incident.
The suspect, named by police as 25-year-old Noah Green, then jumped out of the vehicle brandishing a knife, acting chief of Capitol Police Yogananda Pittman said.
“The suspect did start lunging towards US Capitol police officers, at which time US Capitol police officers fired upon the suspect,” she said.
“At this time the suspect has been pronounced deceased.
“Two US capitol police officers were transported to two different hospitals and it is with a very heavy heart that I announce one of our officers has succumbed to his injuries.”
Officer Evans was a member of the department’s first responders unit. He had been a police officer for 18 years.
The other, unnamed, officer is said to be fighting for his life.
Video posted online showed a dark coloured sedan crashed against a vehicle barrier and a police K9 inspecting the vehicle. Law enforcement and paramedics could be seen caring for at least one unidentified individual.
Authorities said that there was not an ongoing threat and that the attack did not appear to be related to terrorism.
President Joe Biden had just departed the White House for Camp David when the incident occurred.
In a statement Mr Biden said that he and his wife were “heartbroken” over the attack.
“Jill and I were heartbroken to learn of the violent attack at a security checkpoint on the U.S. Capitol grounds, which killed Officer William Evans of the U.S. Capitol Police, and left a fellow officer fighting for his life” he said.
“We send our heartfelt condolences to Officer Evans’ family, and everyone grieving his loss. We know what a difficult time this has been for the Capitol, everyone who works there, and those who protect it.”
The US Capitol complex was placed on lockdown after the incident and staff were told they could not enter or exit buildings.
Officer Evans is the seventh Capitol Police member to die in the line of duty in the department's history.
The incident occurred about 100 yards (91 meters) from the entrance of the building on the Senate side of the Capitol. Fencing that prevented vehicular traffic near that area was recently removed as the Capitol has started to open up after the January 6 riots.
Five people died in the riot, including Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick, who was among a badly outnumbered force trying to fight off insurrectionists who supported former President Donald Trump’s bid to overturn the election.
