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Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton (D-VA) released the following statement on today’s tragic incident at the U.S. Capitol, in which a U.S. Capitol Police Officer was killed:

“My heart breaks for the U.S. Capitol Police and their families, especially Officer Billy Evans who was killed in today’s tragedy. It is impossible to fathom what the Capitol Police community has been through over the past few months. These officers put themselves in jeopardy every day to keep all of us who work in the Capitol complex safe, and we are exceptionally grateful for their service.

“The officers and their families, those who work in and around the Capitol, and many of us in the National Capital Region have not recovered from the trauma of the January 6th attack. Today’s tragedy only reopened those wounds and caused those fears to resurface.

“For those who are affected by today’s events, please know there are resources available to help. If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts or feelings, I urge you to call the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) or chat online at suicidepreventionlifeline.org/chat. There are additional resources for those who have experienced traumatic events at the SAMHSA Disaster Distress Helpline, which you can reach at 1-800-985-5990 or online at samhsa.gov/find-help/disaster-distress-helpline.”

Wexton is a member of the House Appropriations Legislative Branch Subcommittee, which has been conducting oversight into the events surrounding January 6th and its impact on the National Capital Region.

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