A 101st Airborne Division veteran turned Capitol Hill police officer is being recognized as a hero for his actions caught on camera during the Capitol building assault on January 6.
Eugene Goodman served in the Army for four years and was deployed to the Iraq War as a member of the 101st Airborne in Fort Campbell. Now a Capitol Hill police officer, Goodman was stationed below the Senate chamber on January 6 when protestors supporting President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol Building.
In a video from the HuffPost, Goodman can be seen attempting to hold back the violent crowd, reaching for his firearm but instead retreating to the second floor. As he talked to them, Goodman led the rioters down an adjacent corridor and away from the Senate floor, where other law enforcement officials join him.
Here’s the scary moment when protesters initially got into the building from the first floor and made their way outside Senate chamber. pic.twitter.com/CfVIBsgywK
— Igor Bobic (@igorbobic) January 6, 2021
Senate officials said that the Senate chamber was being secured at the time, preventing the crowd from engaging directly with lawmakers. Outside officials have praised Goodman’s actions as providing extra time to protect senators and their staff.
The 101st Airborne Division took to Twitter Wednesday to acknowledge Goodman’s heroics.
Eugene Goodman stood in the doorway that day.
We see you, Eugene. https://t.co/MqnFJcgpAW
— 101st Airborne Div. (@101stAASLTDIV) January 13, 2021
