Posted on 08/26/2021 4:45:04 PM PDT by RandFan
The officer who shot and killed a woman during the Jan. 6 Capitol riot has come forward after months of secrecy surrounding his identity due to reported death threats and heated Republican rhetoric about his actions.
Lt. Michael Leroy Byrd, a 28-year-veteran of the force, told NBC News on Thursday that it has been “frightening” to receive death threats for doing his job.
“They talked about, you know, killing me, cutting off my head, you know, very vicious and cruel things. … There were some racist attacks as well,” he said, calling them “disheartening because I know I was doing my job.”
In the moments leading up to the shooting of Ashli Babbitt, Byrd said: “I was very afraid. I’m hearing about the breaches of different barricaded areas, officers being overrun, officers being down.”
“Once we barricaded the doors, we were essentially trapped where we were. There was no way to retreat. No other way to get out,” he added.
Byrd said he did not regret his actions, though he called firing his weapon a “last resort.”
“I followed my training, and I spent countless years preparing for such a moment,” he said, noting that to him in that moment Babbitt “was posing a threat” to lawmakers in the House Chamber.
At that time, he said, he did not know that she was unarmed, but there had been reports of shots fired in the Capitol.
“I know that day I saved countless lives. I know members of Congress as well as my fellow officers and staff were in jeopardy and in serious danger. That’s my job.”
“I believe I showed the utmost courage on Jan. 6, and it’s time for me to do that now” in coming forward, he said.
(Excerpt) Read more at thedailybeast.com ...
Being a Demo is being able to say anything at any time to any body.
Yes, that's what I wanted to say.
“Does that make sense to you?”
No, and neither do all these “actors” bouncing around.
And then only as a political ploy. If she had been a BLM protestor, your ass would be in prison.
It makes sense. He’s a racist communist POS and has the full support of our government when he executes wrongthinkers.
If Chauvin is in jail, this guy should be too.
Spit.
We’re you wearing your super hero cape too?
Insane
Or
Evil
Probably both.
WTF are you babbling about?
He’s a good damned coward. May he burn in hell.
He is no different than a Street Thug
Terrible analogy. Why would people protesting a crooked election climb through your window?
Yeah, if he moves forward openly, or racks his slide he saves lives. He felt like killing him a white girl.
So here’s the question that should be asked repeatedly of every agency and every person who defends this shooter: If his action was justified does that mean every other police officer neglected his duty by failing to use deadly force against those who entered the Capitol building?
BOOM, dead center bullseye with that question.
whole new meaning to “House Negro”
He was a murderer, plain and simple. One can only hope that some day there will be a reckoning for his crime.
Stupid ** just confessed to murder 2 in my state, or at least would have gotten himself indicted.
He’ll get away with it though, for awhile.
You're not a police officer. Unless the life or safety of the officer or bystanders is in danger then deadly force should not be justified. What Babbitt was doing may have been wrong but was it a threat to anyone? I don't see how.
Mark Wayne Mullin defends his actions. Mullins says he had no choice.
Glad the go along to get along Plummer is not my congressman.
At least Kevin Hearn is keeping his mouth shut.
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