BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — After Friday's attack on the U.S. Capitol -- a community in Western Massachusetts is mourning the loss of one of their own.
Capitol Police Officer Billy Evans was killed in the attack when a 25-year-old man drove his car into a barricade where Evans and another officer were on duty. The driver was later shot and killed by police after he exited the vehicle holding a knife. The other officer was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
“It is with profound sadness that I share the news of the passing of officer William 'Billy' Evans this afternoon from injuries he sustained following an attack at the North barricade by a lone assailant," Acting U.S. Capitol Police Chief Yogananda Pittman said. "Officer Evans had been a member of the United States Capitol Police for 18 years. He began his USCP service on March 7, 2003, and was a member of the Capitol Division’s First Responder’s Unit. Please keep Officer Evans and his family in your thoughts and prayers.”
Evans was born and raised in North Adams, and a graduate of Drury High School, where he played baseball and was in the band. He attended college at Western New England University, where graduated in 2002 with a degree in Criminal Justice.
"While at WNE, Billy was a member of the baseball team, bowling team, and campus activities board (CAB). In the past 24 hours, Billy's close friends from WNE have been reminiscing about their time with him on campus, describing him as someone who was extremely welcoming and friendly, humble, and always willing to help others," the University's President Robert E. Johnson said.
Childhood friends also described Evans as a "jokester" who loved making people laugh -- as they say he was proud of his family, his two young kids who he leaves behind, and his role as a Capitol Police officer.
The motive in the attack is still under investigation.
WBZ's Matt Shearer (@MattWBZ) reports.
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Photo: (Courtesy of U.S. Capitol Police)