WASHINGTON – A man pardoned by President Donald Trump for his role in the Jan. 6 Capitol riots was shot and killed by police Tuesday in Indiana after allegedly resisting arrest.
Matthew Huttle, 42, was shot and killed in Jasper County, Ind,. on Jan. 26, according to the county Sheriff’s Office. Indiana State Police were then called to investigate the fatal shooting.
Here’s what happened
The backstory:
Officials say around 4:15 p.m. on Sunday, a deputy with the Jasper County Sheriff’s Department performed a traffic stop. The officer then attempted to arrest the suspect, later identified as Huttle, and the suspect resisted.
The Sheriff’s Department says an altercation then took place between Huttle and the officer. The officer eventually fired his gun, hitting and killing Huttle. An investigation also revealed that during the traffic stop, the suspect was in possession of a firearm.
The Indiana State Police is leading the investigation, with assistance from the Jasper County Prosecutor’s Office.
“For full transparency, I requested the Indiana State Police to investigate this officer-involved shooting,” Jasper County Sheriff Patrick Williamson said in a statement.
The sheriff says the officer involved has been placed on paid administrative leave — standard protocol in these situations.
“Our condolences go out to the family of the deceased as any loss of life is traumatic to those that were close to Mr. Huttle,” Sheriff Williamson said.
The sheriff added that he will release the name of the officer involved following approval from Indiana State Police detectives.
Jan. 6 sentencing
What he did:
Huttle was sentenced to six months in custody in 2023 after pleading guilty to entering a restricted building on Jan. 6, 2021.
According to the Department of Justice, Huttle had traveled with his uncle to Washington for the ‘Stop the Steal’ pro-Trump rally.
Court documents say that both Dale and Matthew Huttle remained on Capitol grounds until after 5:00 p.m. Huttle was inside the Capitol for 16 minutes and recorded it on video.
The Jasper County Sheriff’s Office says the investigation is ongoing and no further information can be released at this time. Once the investigation is completed, the findings will be submitted to the Jasper County Prosecutor’s Office for formal review.
Trump issues pardons on Day 1
What we know:
More than 1,600 people charged or sent to prison for their roles in the insurrection at the Capitol four years ago are now walking free thanks to an executive order signed by President Donald Trump.
The order issued just hours after his return to the White House on Monday, Jan. 20, paves the way for the release of individuals found guilty of violent attacks on police, as well as leaders of far-right extremist groups convicted of failed plots to keep him in power after losing the 2020 presidential election to Democrat Joe Biden.
In the weeks leading up to his return to the White House, President Donald Trump suggested that he would review the Jan. 6 defendants on a case-by-case basis rather than issuing blanket pardons. Vice President JD Vance had also stated recently that those responsible for the violence during the Capitol riot “obviously” should not be pardoned, according to the Associated Press.
However, Trump commuted the sentences of 14 defendants, including several convicted of seditious conspiracy. The remaining individuals found guilty of Jan. 6 crimes were granted “full, complete and unconditional” pardons.
More than 100 police officers were injured in the riot. Democrat leaders condemned the blanket pardons as did many police officers who were hurt defending the capitol that day.
Trump also ordered the attorney general to seek the dismissal of about 450 cases that are still pending.
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