Man Pardoned by Trump for Role in Jan. 6 Riot Is Fatally Shot During Altercation with Police After Traffic Stop

Mar. 15, 2025

The U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021 in Washington, D.C.Photo:Samuel Corum/Getty

Samuel Corum/Getty

Matthew Huttle, 42, was involved in a traffic stop near the Pulaski County, Ind. county line around 4:15 p.m. on Sunday. A Jasper County Sheriff’s Department (JCSD) officer attempted to arrest him. Huttle was in possession of a firearm and resisted, prompting an altercation between him and the officer, who fired his weapon and fatally shot Huttle.

Jasper County Sheriff Patrick Williamson also stated on Monday:

“For full transparency, I requested the Indiana State Police to investigate this officer involved shooting,” Williamson said in a statement, adding that the officer was placed on paid administrative leave per standard protocol and policy. The officer’s name will be released once the State Police Detectives permit.

“Our condolences go out to the family of the deceased as any loss of life is traumatic to those that were close to Mr. Huttle,” Williamson said.

President Donald Trump in Washington, D.C. on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025.Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA/Bloomberg via Getty

Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA/Bloomberg via Getty

Nicholas Barnes, an attorney who previously represented Huttle in driving and alcohol-related incidents, said he is hoping to learn more information about the shooting, per theAssociated Press.

In 2023, Huttle was sentenced to six months in custody after pleading guilty to entering a restricted building, the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Huttle traveled to Washington, D.C., with his uncle, Dale Huttle, to attend a pro-Trump rally. Matthew recorded 16 minutes of video in the Capitol.

Attorney Andrew Hemmer, who defended Huttle in his Jan. 6 case, said that Matthew agreed to drive Dale to Washington D.C. that day and was “not a true believer in any political movement,” perThe New York Times.

“Matt’s motivation was for something to do and because he thought it would be a historic event that he could document through pictures and videos,” Hemmer wrote, per theTimes. “His uncle talked to him about politics and stolen elections, but Matt mostly tuned this out as he did not really care.”

Pro-Trump supporters storm the U.S. Capitol following a rally with President Donald Trump on January 6, 2021 in Washington, D.C.Samuel Corum/Getty

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Matthew’s death comes one week after Trumppardoned about 1,500 people who were charged in the Jan. 6 attack. He followed his campaign promise and pardoned the people hours into his presidency on Monday, Jan. 20.

source: people.com