Widow Of DC Officer Who Died By Suicide After Capitol Riots Sues His Attackers

The widow of a DC Metropolitan Police Officer who died by suicide following the Capitol Riot failed a lawsuit against her husband’s alleged attacker. The assailant was identified with the help of an online group dedicated to identifying individuals who participated in the riot.

A 12-year veteran, Jeffrey Smith, died by suicide just nine days after the January 6 riot. Smith’s widow, Erin, alleges that he suffered a traumatic brain injury while he was attacked. The suit claims the injury was a contributing factor to him taking his own life.

The lawsuit includes the opinion of former DC Medical Examiner Jonathan L. Arden, which supports her claim. The ME argues “post-concussion syndrome” factored into Smith’s death.

Smith’s attorney, David P. Weber, reached out to a group called Deep State Dogs after reading an article in HuffPost about private citizens working to identify people who participated in the Capitol riot. It took the group a little more than a month to identify Smith’s attacker.

They identified David Walls-Kaufman using facial recognition software. Kaufman was handed a “cane or crowbar” by his co-defendant, Taylor F. Taranto. Taylor was identified in an amended suit, which was filed on Saturday. Kaufman then used the weapon to hit Smith, according to the lawsuit. 

According to Insider, Smith’s estate sues Kaufman and Taranto for assault and battery and wrongful death. Taranto is additionally being sued for aiding and abetting. The suit seeks a $2 million judgment and punitive damages totaling $5 million.