USCP officer killed outside Capitol to ‘lie in honour’ in Rotunda on April 13

The police veteran killed in the line of duty, when a vehicle rammed into him and another officer on April 2 outside the Capitol building, will lie in honour in the Capitol Rotunda on April 13, a tribute reserved for the nation’s most eminent private citizens.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi made the announcement in a joint statement released on Tuesday.

William “Billy” Evans, 41, who is an 18-year-old USCP veteran, was killed Friday when a vehicle rammed into Evans and another officer at a barricade just 100 yards from the legislature building. The driver, Noah Green, 25, came out of the car with a knife and started to “lunge toward the US Capitol Police officers.”

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However, he was shot to death by police, officials said. Investigators believe Green had been delusional and increasingly having suicidal thoughts.  

“In giving his life to protect our Capitol and our Country, Officer Evans became a martyr for our democracy,” the statement read.

“On behalf of the entire Congress, we are profoundly grateful. … 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.”

Pelosi and Schumer also hoped that the tribute would be “a source of comfort and an expression of gratitude to the US Capitol Police force”, who has been serving the country with all their might during this difficult time, starting from the Capitol attacks on January 6 by supporters of former president Donald Trump.

Earlier, the US Capitol Police released a statement from the Evans family, saying: “His death has left a gaping void in our lives that will never be filled.”

Evans, a father of two, grew up in North Adams, Massachusetts, a close-knit town of about 13,000 in the northwest part of the state.

He attended Western New England University, graduating in 2002 as a criminal justice major. He joined the Capitol Police the next year.

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For Evans, the most important thing in his life was his two children.

“His most cherished moments were those spent with them — building with Lego, having lightsaber duels, playing board games, doing arts and crafts, and recently finishing the Harry Potter series,” the family said.

The family said Evans was proud of his job and that his friendship with colleagues near the “North Barricade” of the Capitol complex was one of the best parts of his job.

Evans will lie in the Rotunda on April 13, beginning with a ceremonial arrival at 10:30 a.m. and a Congressional tribute at 11 a.m