A man filmed smashing windows in the Capitol on Jan. 6, where Ashli Babbitt was fatally shot, was arrested Saturday after a family member tipped off the FBI, federal prosecutors said.
Zachary Jordan Alam was arrested in Pennsylvania and charged with assaulting a federal officer with a dangerous or lethal weapon, destruction of government property, unlawful access to a restricted building without legal authority, and violent access and disorderly conduct, a federal criminal complaint said.
In photos and videos cited by the affidavit, an FBI officer said Alam broke the Capitol grounds “with a dark-colored jacket, a hat with black and brown fur lining, and a black shirt with a yellow and red label on the front. “.
Video footage showed Alam – with his mask down – pushing past security guards and shouting “F — the blue!” before reaching the doors of the Speaker’s Lobby, which leads to the House Chamber, the affidavit said.
There, Alam grabbed a black helmet from another rioter and used it to smash the windows, according to the document. Shortly afterwards, Trump supporter Ashli Babbitt attempted to climb through the shattered glass and was fatally shot by a Capitol police officer, the affidavit said.
Alam was arrested after an anonymous family member contacted the FBI National Threat Operations Center on Jan. 14, the court document said.
Court records did not say whether he had hired a lawyer. Attempts to reach Alam by phone on the numbers listed in front of his home were unsuccessful.
Alam was the latest in a handful of pro-Trump rioters whose family members and ex-romantic partners have become authorities for their alleged participation in the Capitol raid.
Retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Larry Brock was arrested Jan. 10 after his 18-year-old former wife contacted the FBI National Threat Operations Center and said she recognized him on video.
Accused rioters Guy Reffitt, an apparent member of a Texas militia group, was arrested and charged with threatening his adult children if they “crossed the line and reported him” to authorities, according to a criminal complaint. His son Jackson Reffitt apparently made the call before his father allegedly threatened his family, the affidavit said.
Dozens of other people have been arrested or charged after the pro-Trump mob stormed the Capitol in a riot that led to the deaths of five people, including Capitol police officer Brian Sicknick.
