The remains of slain U.S. Capitol Police Officer William ‘Billy’ Evans arrived at the Capitol on Tuesday where he will lay in honor after being killed in the line of duty.
The lines of National Guard troops guarding the Capitol since January 6 saluted the procession as a black hearse carrying Evans’ casket drove back to the building, to be greeted by Capitol Police officers outside.
Evans, 41, who was rammed by a car at the Capitol on April 2, died from multiple blunt force injuries to the head. The Washington D.C. medical examiner ruled his death a homicide.
‘Today, we honor a martyr for our democracy, Officer William F. Evans, who will lie in honor in the Capitol Rotunda. May this tribute be a source of comfort & an expression of gratitude to the Capitol Police Force, which has awed our nation with their resilience during this time,’ Speaker Nancy Pelosi wrote on Twitter Tuesday morning.
The hearse carrying the casket of Capitol Police officer Billy Evans arrives Tuesday on Capitol Hill. Evans will lie in honor
A line of Capitol Police officers salute the hearse carrying Billy Evans casket to Capitol Hill Tuesday
A line of Capitol Police officers greet the hearse carrying the late Officer Billy Evans
Officer William Evans will lie in honor in the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol after he was killed in the line of duty when a car drove into security barriers
The security booth near where US Capitol Police Officer William ‘Billy’ Evans was killed on April 2, 2021 is draped in black and adorned with photos and flowers prior to his casket arriving at the Capitol
A box of tissues sit on the base of a statue in the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol on April 13, 2021 where Billy Evans will lie in honor
President Joe Biden will join members of the U.S. Capitol police and members of Congress in paying tribute to Evans.
The flag at the Capitol is lowered to half staff. And black bunting was placed around Evans’ patrol area on the Senate side of the Capitol, where he was on duty when a car rushed the barricade.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the ceremony is open to invited guests only.
His family described Evans as a ‘father, son, brother and friend’ in a statement on Tuesday.
They noted he loved lightsaber duels and Harry Potter, who made friends with anyone he met. And they said the most important thing in life were his children Logan and Abigail.
‘Billy was the best father, son, brother, and friend anyone could ever hope for. His death has left a gaping void in our lives that will never be filled,’ the Evans family said in a statement released by the U.S. Capitol Police.
The family also released photos of Evans with his children. In one Logan and Abigail are in their Halloween costumes, and, in the second, Evans is laying in a hammock with them, wearing a shirt that reads USCP.
The family of slain U.S. Capitol Police Officer William ‘Billy’ Evans paid tribute to him as a father, noting his love for his children Abigail and Logan
The Evans family statement said Billy Evans enjoyed lightsaber duels and playing lego with his children
The Evans family noted ‘Billy had the open, welcoming personality that led him to make friends with anyone he met’
Capitol Police Officer William ‘Billy’ Evans (right) 41, who was rammed by Noah Green’s (left) car at the Capitol, died from multiple blunt force injuries to the head
‘The absolute most important thing in his life was his two children, Logan and Abigail. His most cherished memories were those spent with them – building Lego, having lightsaber duels, playing board games, doing arts and crafts, and recently finishing the Harry Potter series,’ the family said. ‘Their dad was their hero long before the tragic events of last week.’
‘While family was always first, Billy had the open, welcoming personality that led him to make friends with anyone he met. He relished bringing people together and making sure everyone felt included and had a good time.’
‘The outpouring of support we have received from the law enforcement community from around the country and world both humbles us and serves as a testament to Billy’s sacrifice and dedication to the mission of which he was charged.’
Their statement comes following the announcement Evans will lie in honor in the United States Capitol Rotunda next week after being killed in the line of duty.
Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced last week that Evans will lie in repose on April 13th.
‘In giving his life to protect our Capitol and our Country, Officer Evans became a martyr for our democracy. On behalf of the entire Congress, we are profoundly grateful,’ the two Democratic leaders said in a statement.
Evans was killed in last Friday’s attack on Capitol Hill when a vehicle rammed into Evans and another officer at a barricade just 100 yards from the Capitol building.
‘It is our hope that this tribute will be a comfort to the family of Officer Evans, particularly his children Logan and Abigail, as will the knowledge that so many Americans mourn with and pray for them at this sad time,’ Schumer and Pelosi said.
Evans was an 18-year veteran of the force.
Evans is the sixth person and fourth Capitol Police officer to receive the distinction of lying in honor in the Capitol Rotunda, a designation for those who were not government or military officials.
Officer Billy Evans was killed in last Friday’s attack on Capitol Hill when a vehicle rammed into Evans and another officer at a barricade just 100 yards from the Capitol building
Noah Green was shot and killed by Capitol Police following the attack
The American flag at the U.S. Capitol is lowered to half-staff in honor of Capitol Police officer William Evans
Friday night the flag was lowered from the Capitol and folded by USCP officers in the rotunda; it will be presented to Officer Evans’ family
Officer Evans is the sixth person and fourth Capitol Police officer to lie in honor of the Rotunda; the cremated remains of U.S. Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick lay in honor on February 2 after Sicknick died in the aftermath of the Jan. 6 riot
In Friday’s incident, the driver, Noah Green, 25, came out of the car with a knife and was shot to death by police, officials said in the aftermath.
Investigators believe Green, who described himself as a ‘Follower of Farrakhan’ and said the federal government was targeting him with mind control on his now-removed Facebook page, had been delusional and increasingly having suicidal thoughts.
In the chaotic moments after the attack, law enforcement officials initially believed the suspect, who was seen on surveillance video lunging at the officers with a knife, may have stabbed Evans, but that was not the case, the AP reported. Rumors also had swirled around fears that Evans may have been struck by friendly fire when police started shooting at the suspect.
The U.S. Capitol Police Headquarters entrance in Washington, is draped in black
The death of Evans came nearly three months after the Jan. 6 MAGA riot at the Capitol that left five people dead, including Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick.
Sicknick’s remains also lay in honor in the rotunda.
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden joined Sicknick’s family members, lawmakers, and colleagues from the Capitol Police in paying tribute to the officer.
Sicknick was the fifth person to lie in honor. Famed evangelist Rev. Billy Graham received the honor in 2018.
Civil rights icon Rosa Parks lay in honor in 2005. Capitol Police Officer Jacob Chestnut and Detective John Gibson, who were shot and killed by a Capitol intruder, were given the honor in 1998.
