Louisiana Man Pleads Guilty to Assaulting Law Enforcement with a Dangerous Weapon During Jan. 6 Capitol Breach

          WASHINGTON – A Louisiana man pleaded guilty on Aug. 15, 2024, to assaulting law enforcement with a dangerous weapon during the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol. His actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.

          Edward Richmond Jr., 40, of Geismar, Louisiana, pleaded guilty to a felony charge of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers with a deadly or dangerous weapon before U.S. District Judge John D. Bates. Judge Bates will sentence Richmond on November 18, 2024.

          According to court documents, Richmond traveled to Washington, D.C., on Jan. 5, 2021, as part of a “security team” hired to accompany nine individuals attending a rally held by the former President. On Jan. 6, 2021, after attending the rally, some members of the group, including Richmond, made their way to the U.S. Capitol building. Court documents say that Richmond wore tactical gear, including a black helmet, tinted goggles, shoulder, elbow, knee pads, a two-way radio, and a camouflage vest with a patch on his chest of the Louisiana state flag.

          By about 3:15 p.m., Richmond had made his way to the Lower West Terrace Tunnel, the site of some of the most violent attacks against law enforcement on January 6th. There, Richmond made his way through a violent mob of rioters and fought police for approximately two hours.  During this time, Richmond actively attempted to break a police line inside the Tunnel and mounted multiple attacks against law enforcement.

          Court documents say that Richmond carried a police riot shield and police riot helmets taken from officers out of the Tunnel and passed them back to a mob of rioters. Richmond also helped take furniture from the Capitol out of broken windows and threw a whiteboard into the Tunnel, aimed at police. In addition, Richmond obtained a police baton taken from officers in the Tunnel, which he then wielded against them.

          At approximately 4:57 p.m., Richmond approached the police line—now at the mouth of the Tunnel—and attacked the officers with a metal baton, striking them multiple times.

          The FBI arrested Richmond on Jan. 22, 2024.  Richmond will remain in custody pending sentencing.

          This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Louisiana.

          This case is being investigated by the FBI's Washington Field Office, which identified Richmond as BOLO (Be on the Lookout) #182 on its seeking information photos. Valuable assistance was provided by the FBI’s New Orleans Field Office, the FBI’s Baton Rouge Field Office, U.S. Capitol Police, and the Metropolitan Police Department.

          In the 43 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,488 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including nearly 550 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony. The investigation remains ongoing.

          Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.