“Entrance to Speaker’s lobby”
What citizen would have known what was down that hall?
What idiot security plan would have evacuated Queen Nancy to that location? Certainly that plan would go to a more secure armored/reinforced location with professional security staffing and weaponry, not some trigger happy jackass with a handgun.
Maybe this guy was assigned to shoot to kill anyone that even attempted to approach Nancy’s liquor cabinet or royal freezer with the month’s supply of gourmet ice cream.
Other folks crossing the hall in the background proves there was no perceived deadly threat on the other side of the barricaded doorway.
“Certainly that (VIP evacuation) plan would go to a more secure armored/reinforced location”
Clearly, they must have long had an emergency evacuation plan. They do have dedicated secure infrastructure through which to move Members and designated staff out, and to.
But they must be collected from the various less secure areas (like offices and committee rooms, as well as the House chamber itself). So armed escorts would presumably be provided (at least for the top priorities, Like the Speaker, who is third in line for the Presidency, after the VP).
Clearly, the use of lethal force is authorized and likely rehearsed/exercised periodically. Their plans would likely need to account for even more threatening scenarios, like a large enemy Special Forces raid.
It may have just unfortunately been a critical point in the operation (like moving the Speaker, for example, or a point deemed essential to hold, to secure the general evacuation) when they absolutely would not allow entry (i.e., lethal force pre-planned and approved - perhaps mandated).
It might have been a nervous over-reaction by an individual, but I would assume that there are certain red lines that have long been planned and trained. Same thing with nuclear weapons - at some point, individuals breaching the security perimeter lose the benefit of the doubt (according to the approved plan), and security personnel are directed to shoot to kill.
That was the Historical “Speaker’s Lobby” but Nancy’s office is not in that hallway, is it.