2021 United States Capitol shooting

On January 17, 2021, two National Guard soldiers were killed and one was injured in a mass shooting at the 117th United States Congress. The perpetrator, 31-year-old Brenton Farris, was killed by members of the National Guard during the shooting. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) determined that Farris, a Virginia resident, had committed the shooting in an attempt to prevent the Inauguration of then President-elect Joe Biden as well as an attempt to commit suicide by cop.

Shooting
At 12:41 pm, Farris, armed with his M16A4 rifle and three magazines with 30 rounds each, opened fire just outside the perimeter of the Washington, D.C. capitol, immediately severely injuring two members of the National Guard. As other soldiers and Capitol Police took notice and began to run over, Farris breached the security fence and ran onto the capitol lawn.

While running towards the capitol building, Farris began shooting at a National Guard member heading towards him. The soldier, after getting shot numerous time, fell to his knees and fired towards Farris, hitting him in the left shoulder. Right afterwards, fellow National Guard soldiers and Capitol Police began firing towards Farris, causing the latter to drop to the ground and disregard the rifle. Farris then pulled out a Glock 19 handgun and aimed it towards the capitol building but was then shot once more by the National Guard and Capitol Police, killing him.

The entire shooting occurred within the span of two minutes.

Victims
The two National Guard members killed in the shooting were both men: Daniel Marsadona, 39, from Richmond, Virginia and Francis "Frank" Goscatrus Jr., 43, from El Paso, Texas. Marsadona was shot 11 times all over the body, including twice in the head; he died minutes after getting shot. Goscatrus was shot 15 times, including twice in the left cheek; he was later pronounced dead in the early hours of January 18. The injured was Austin Issac, 32, from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, who was shot 4 times in the left hip and leg.

Perpetrator
Authorities identified the shooter as 31-year-old Brenton Alexander Farris (July 15, 1989 - January 17, 2021). It was later concluded that no one other then Farris was involved.

Farris was raised in Arlington County, Virginia by his parents William and Helen (née Cudiner) Farris. He had a younger sister named Paula; he had an older brother, William Farris Jr., that died at six months old from pneumonia. Farris was arrested in late 2004 at the age of 15 for spray painting the words "Fuck Democrats" on a sidewalk. The charges were later dropped.

Farris graduated from Yorktown High School in 2007. He attended some classes at Strayer University but ultimately stopped in the middle of his sophomore year and began trade school, later graduating and becoming a certified electrician.

According to his girlfriend, Rachel Vanesya, Farris exhibited an obssesive hatred for Democrats, liberals and most things associated with the left-wing. He also "blindly followed" Republican officials and identified as a nationalist. He voted for Donald Trump in both the 2016 and 2020 elections and "looked up to him". He had no previous mental health diagnoses and purchased the guns he used legally. At his home, Farris had two shotguns and three more handguns, all kept in his bedroom.

Vanesya told police she had suspected Farris had bipolar disorder, a claim supported by his family. According to them, Farris would go through manic phases every once in a while, as well as going through "depressed" phases.