Chaos breaks out in the U.S. Capitol building after President Donald Trump spent weeks working up his supporters with false accusations of fraud regarding the Nov. 3 election, culminating in a call to march to the building that represents U.S. democracy.

This Wednesday, Jan. 6, an angry mob stormed the U.S. Capitol building, occupying the House and Senate chambers, vandalizing offices, and sending legislators and staff members for cover. Rioters wore MAGA hats, carried Trump 2020 flags, and descended on the Capitol building from a rally near the White House. The same place where Trump himself had exhorted these people to disrupt the counting of Electoral College votes: the final step in certifying Joe Biden’s presidential victory. 

D.C. Police Chief Robert Contee stated that the chaotic day included four fatalities: one woman who was shot by the U.S. Capitol Police, as well as three others. They were said to have died in “separate medical emergencies”. One more death was confirmed later, bringing the total number of fatalities to five. 

Police made “in excess of 52 arrests,” including 26 in the U.S. Capitol grounds, said Contee. 

At least 14 Metropolitan Police Department Officers were injured during Wednesday’s events. Two pipe bombs — one from the DNC and one from the RNC — were also recovered by police. 

The once-crowded streets were almost entirely isolated, excluding itinerant police patrols and a handful of journalists leaving the area, by around 11 p.m. Roughly 20 law enforcement officers were guarding a barricade along Pennsylvania Avenue, right by the reflecting pool in front of the U.S Capitol building. 

The FBI started an investigation, seeking the public’s help to identify unlawful individuals. The agency’s Washington field office launched an online form for “information related to violent activity at the U.S Capitol Building.” 

“Our goal is to preserve the public’s constitutional right to protest by protecting everyone from violence and other criminal activity,” said the FBI. 

Also occurring Wednesday night, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser announced a 15-day extension to the public emergency she declared earlier in the day, “so that [they] can continue to ensure peace and security through the inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.”

“Today may be a dark day for our democracy, but there is hope and change coming,” she added.  

The nation’s lawmakers took to their electoral duties late Wednesday night amid broken glass and smashed doors following a historic day of havoc wrought by pro-Trump rioters who breached the building in hopes of thwarting President-elect Joe Biden’s victory. Their attempt was unsuccessful, as Vice President Mike Pence affirmed Biden’s win early Thursday.