By Isabelle Wilson-
SILVER SPRING, Md- A Maryland police officer who was involved in a fatal shooting earlier this year is now facing charges related to his alleged participation in the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol.
The Montgomery County Police Department said in a news release that it has suspended Officer Justin Lee without pay and is “taking steps to terminate his employment” after his indictment on felony charges.
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The arrest and suspension of Officer Justin Lee have raised questions about the vetting of police recruits, as the Montgomery County Police Department seeks to take steps to terminate his employment.
Officer Lee, 25, of Rockville, Maryland, had been on administrative leave since he shot and killed a suspect involved in a stabbing incident on July 22, 2023.
His legal troubles deepened when he was taken into custody in Washington, D.C., on charges stemming from his alleged involvement in the mob’s assault on the Capitol building.
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The Montgomery County Police Department, in a news release, stated that it has suspended Officer Lee without pay and is actively working towards his termination following his indictment on multiple felony charges in connection with January 6th events.
The charges include counts of civil disorder and assaulting, resisting, or impeding police. While Lee was indicted for assaulting a Metropolitan Police Officer, the indictment does not provide specific details about the alleged attack.
Notably, the police department disclosed that Lee had been hired about a year after the January 6th riot and that they were unaware of his alleged participation in the attack until July 2023 when it was brought to their attention that he was under FBI investigation.
This revelation has prompted a review of their background check procedures for job applicants.
“The actions of one individual do not define the entire department,” the Montgomery County Police Department emphasized in response to Lee’s arrest, underlining the distinction between his alleged involvement in the Capitol attack and the rest of the department’s officers.
The incident that led to Lee’s suspension and subsequent arrest occurred earlier this year when officers responded to reports of a stabbing at a thrift store in Silver Spring, Maryland.
The suspect, who was armed with a foot-long butcher’s knife, reportedly ignored commands to drop the weapon and subsequently lunged at Officer Lee. In response, Lee discharged his weapon, killing the suspect.
One of the four stabbing victims was critically injured, while all were described by Police Chief Darren Francke as having been attacked “unprovoked.”
The Capitol attack on January 6, 2021, remains a significant historical event, as more than 100 police officers were injured during clashes with rioters supporting then-President Donald Trump.
Over 1,100 people, including several current or former law enforcement officers, have been charged with Capitol riot-related federal crimes, underscoring the far-reaching consequences of the events that unfolded on that day.
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