Alabama man dies and one arrested during Trump rally in D.C.

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DC National Guard stands outside a mostly quiet Capitol, Thursday morning, Jan. 7, 2021 in Washington, as workers place security fencing in place. The House and Senate certified the Democrat's electoral college win early Thursday after a violent throng of pro-Trump rioters spent hours Wednesday running rampant through the Capitol. A woman was fatally shot, windows were bashed and the mob forced shaken lawmakers and aides to flee the building, shielded by Capitol Police. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

An Athens, Alabama man is one of four people who died during the chaos at the D.C. Capitol building on Wednesday, Al.com reported. The 55-year-old man, Kevin Greeson, died as a result of a medical emergency, according to D.C. Police Chief Robert Contee. Two other people died from medical emergencies that day, Benjamin Phillips, 50, from Greentown, Pennsylvania, and Rosanne Boyland, 34, from Kennesaw, Georgia.

One Maryland woman, Ashli Babbitt, was shot and killed by a law enforcement officer. Police Chief Contee said an investigation is underway. According to the Tuscaloosa News, Babbitt was shot while trying to crawl through a broken window at the Capitol. 

Greeson’s Twitter page was rarely used, but his last post stated, “Hydroxychloroquine zinc and z-pac works to cure you from Covid-19…Trump 2020… Twitter sucks!” Social media commentary on a Goodyear Decatur Employees Facebook page states that Greeson died of a heart attack. However, that hasn’t been confirmed by any family members. 

 

Lonnie Coffman of Falkville, Alabama, was also arrested by federal authorities near the U.S. Capitol, according to Al.com. The 70-year-old man was in possession of a firearm and materials to make several Molotov cocktails.  The Montgomery Advertiser reported that Capitol police initially identified the suspect as Lonnie Zoffman, but then corrected the name. 

U.S. Capitol Chief of Police Steven Sund stated Thursday, “The violent attack on the U.S. Capitol was unlike any I have ever experienced in my 30 years in law enforcement here in Washington, D.C. Maintaining public safety in an open environment — specifically for First Amendment activities — has long been a challenge. The USCP had a robust plan established to address anticipated First Amendment activities.  But make no mistake — these mass riots were not First Amendment activities; they were criminal riotous behavior.”

*There is a correction to the original article. Lonnie Coffman was incorrectly named Lonnie Zoffman.