Suspect identified in Capitol attack that left one officer dead and another wounded

Following a recent attack on Capitol grounds, one officer is left dead due to knife wounds.

The attack initiated Friday afternoon, when Noah Green, 25, crashed his blue Nissan sedan on Capitol grounds (Fox News). He quickly abandoned his vehicle and lunged at Capitol Police officers with a knife. Green wounded two officers before being shot to death. Both officers were immediately taken to medical attention, but one officer succumbed to his wounds shortly after. According to U.S. Capitol Police Chief Yogananda Pittman, the officer has been identified as William “Billy” Evans — 18-year veteran of the department who began his service on March 7, 2003.

The motivations for Noah Green’s attack are unclear, but are likely to be rooted in either his strong ties to the Nation of Islam political movement and/or drug use (New York Times). The former motive serves as an explanation as Green’s interest in the Islamic black nationalist movement and its leader Louis Farrakhan reportedly grew in the previous months. His Facebook account even boasted a “Follower of Farrakhan” label. Louis Farrakhan has repeatedly promoted anti-Semitic claims and encouraged political violence within Nation of Islam. However, investigators have not yet ruled the recent attack as a domestic terrorism incident (New York Times). Another potential motive lies in mental instability of the suspect. 

Brendon Green, Noah’s brother, commented that Noah had been mentally unstable for months. While in Botswana earlier this year, Noah had reportedly jumped in front of a car, before returning to the U.S. to live with his brother. Brendon suggested that drugs might also be involved. According to a senior law enforcement official, “investigators believed that Mr. Green was influenced by a combination of underlying mental health issues and a connection to an ideological cause that provided justification to commit violence” (New York Times).

Leaders from both political parties have thanked USCP officers and national guard forces for their response, and offered condolences to the family of Officer Billy Evans (Fox News). President Biden has ordered White House flags be flown at half-staff in Evan’s honor.

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ARTICLE: DAVID NISSING

FBA US NEWS EDITOR: CARSON WOLF

PHOTO CREDITS: NY DAILY NEWS

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