The man accused of ramming a car into two officers at a barricade outside the U.S. Capitol had been suffering from delusions, paranoia, and suicidal thoughts.
The tragic incident killed one officer, and police fatally shot the suspect.
A U.S. official told the Associated Press that investigators believe it was an isolated incident from the disturbed young man.
Video footage of Friday’s afternoon attack shows the driver emerging from the crashed car with a knife in his hand and starting to run at the two officers, Capitol Police acting Chief Yogananda Pittman confirmed to reporters.
Police shot the suspect, 25-year-old Noah Green, who died at a hospital.
Investigators are focusing on Green’s mental health as they look into a motive for his attack, the official, who was not authorized to speak publicly about an ongoing investigation and spoke to The AP on condition of anonymity.
His family told authorities that his delusions had increased.
Green made online posts claiming he was under government thought control and was being watched.
He also claimed to be a follower of the Nation of Islam and its longtime leader, Louis Farrakhan. Some of his posts were captured by the group SITE, which tracks online activity.
“To be honest these past few years have been tough, and these past few months have been tougher,” he wrote in late March. “I have been tried with some of the biggest, unimaginable tests in my life. I am currently now unemployed after I left my job partly due to afflictions, but ultimately, in search of a spiritual journey.”
“I just ask that the public continue to keep U.S. Capitol Police and their families in your prayers,” Pittman said. “This has been an extremely difficult time for U.S. Capitol Police after the events of Jan. 6 and now the events that have occurred here today.”
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