Capitol officer’s bodycam exhibits Jan 6 assaults two weeks earlier than suicide | EUROtoday

Newly launched video footage has captured the merciless assaults and terrifying state of affairs {that a} Capitol police officer endured simply two weeks earlier than he took his personal life.

Officer Jeff Smith’s physique digicam footage reveals the harrowing actuality of what unfolded within the halls of the Capitol constructing on January 6 2021.

In it, the officer is seen dealing with a barrage of bodily and verbal assaults from rioters.

People are screaming and lining the partitions of the monument as officers cross by.

One girl is seen telling Smith: “Get a real job. We don’t support y’all anymore.”

Outside, another person is yelling repeatedly: “You stand with criminals! You stand with criminals!”

Then one other particular person carrying a “Make America Great Again” sweatshirt chimes in, loudly: “They’re not here to protect the people. They’re here to protect a bunch of f***ing child rapists and corrupt politicians!”

The Capitol Police officers can be seen dealing with quite a few bodily tussles.

At one level, the officer is seen engaged in a battle, being tossed about right into a mob of individuals, the place somebody grabs his baton and begins utilizing it in opposition to him.

Shortly after the scuffle, a fellow officer is heard asking the officer: “You good, Smith?” as he seems to be taking a fast breather to gather himself. Smith then grabs his helmet and continues on together with his obligation.

Later, Smith is heard speaking to a different officer, incredulous that the Capitol doorways don’t lock as they’re making an attempt to take away rioters from the constructing.

“It’s the US Capitol and they don’t have a way to lock the door?” he asks.

The different officer says rioters broke the hinge on their approach in.

At a while throughout the riot, a steel pole flew by means of the air, placing Smith.

He is seen within the bodycam footage saying he received “hit in the face with a f***ing piece of metal”.

Two weeks after that chilling day, Smith died by suicide. He had no historical past of melancholy, medical specialists stated on the time, and a medical expert concluded he died of “post-concussion syndrome”.

Smith was considered one of 4 Capitol Police officers who took their very own lives following the assault.

“He got more distant. He got angry. He was very short-tempered. And he was not himself,” his widow Erin Smith stated of her late husband after his loss of life.

That manner was “very out of character” for him.

The never-before-seen footage comes after House Speaker Mike Johnson introduced that he’s releasing the January 6 tapes. Mr Johnson stated on 17 November that “nearly all of the footage” shall be made out there on the Committee of House Administration’s web site, that means greater than 40,000 hours of tapes of the violent riot.

If you’re experiencing emotions of misery, or are struggling to manage, you may converse to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), e mail jo@samaritans.orgor go to the Samaritans web site to seek out particulars of your nearest department. If you’re based mostly within the USA, and also you or somebody you realize wants psychological well being help proper now, name the National Suicide Prevention Helpline on 1-800-273-TALK (8255). This is a free, confidential disaster hotline that’s out there to everybody 24 hours a day, seven days per week. If you’re abroad, you may go to www.befrienders.org to discover a helpline close to you.