Family of Suspect Offers Sympathy to Officer's Family

Among those expressing condolences Saturday to the family of Capitol Police officer Billy Evans is the family of the man accused of killing him. Relatives of Noah Green, who was fatally shot after ramming a barricade outside the Capitol on Friday with his car, say they "feel great sympathy for the officer whose life was taken and the other injured during these events," per the Washington Post. They “were just as taken aback as the rest of the nation from this horrific event," the statement adds. Evans, an 18-year veteran of the force and a father of two, is the second Capitol Police officer to die in the line of duty this year. Officer Brian Sicknick died after sustaining injuries in the Jan. 6 riot. Two other officers took their own lives after the riot.

Evans "was held in high regard by the force and Capitol staff," says Terrance Gainer, who was police chief when Evans joined the department, per USA Today. He called Evans a "wonderful guy," adding, "the officers are crushed, their resilience stretched." The second officer injured in the attack, who has not been identified, was hospitalized with injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening. "Officer Evans was often at that barricade when we arrived for work," tweeted David Popp, a spokesman for Mitch McConnell. "He was so friendly and professional, and seeing him was always a plus. Today is a very sad day.” Green's family, meanwhile, says the 25-year-old "was not a terrorist by any means" and appeared to be suffering from mental health issues. (More Capitol Police stories.)