Officer who shot Ashli Babbitt gives first public interview to NBC News

The Capitol police officer, who shot and killed Ashli Babbitt during the Jan. 6. Capitol riot, gave his first public interview since the shooting to NBC News.

Lt. Michael Byrd sat down with NBC anchor Lester Holt for an interview that aired Thursday to discuss his account of the minutes leading up to his shooting of Babbitt. According to Byrd, he and a few other officers originally barricaded the doors to protect the 60 to 80 House members and staffers still inside the building.

"Once we barricaded the doors, we were essentially trapped where we were," Byrd, who is the leader of the House Chamber section of the department, said "There was no way to retreat. No other way to get out."