Medical examiner releases cause of death for Capitol rioters: Ashli Babbitt's death ruled a homicide

Cause of death for protester Ashli Babbitt was gunshot wound to the left anterior shoulder, says D.C. Medical Examiner Dr. Francisco Diaz.

By Joseph Weber

Published: April 7, 2021 2:39pm

Updated: April 7, 2021 6:01pm

The District of Columbia Office of the Chief Medical Examiner on Wednesday released the cause of death of four people who died as a result of the Jan. 6 Capitol riot but did not provide a much-anticipated explanation of what killed U.S. Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick.

Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Francisco J. Diaz said the cause of death for protester Ashli Babbitt, 35, was a gunshot wound to the left anterior shoulder and that the manner of death was homicide.

Babbitt was shot by police while attempting to climb through a door on the House side of the Capitol Building.

Protestor Kevin Greeson, 55, died of hypertensive atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, and the cause of death was natural.

Protestor Benjamin Phillips, 50, died of hypertensive atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and the manner was natural.

Protestor Roseanne Boyland, 34, died of acute amphetamine intoxication and the manner of death was accidental.

Investigators have determined protestors sprayed Sicknick, 42, with bear spray and he collapsed shortly after the riot. However, they have not said whether that attack directly resulted in his death.