An Indiana man pardoned by former US President Donald Trump for his involvement in the January 6 Capitol riot was fatally shot by police during a traffic stop just days after receiving the pardon.
Matthew Huttle, 42, was killed on Sunday after allegedly resisting arrest and engaging in an “altercation” with an officer, according to a statement by the Indiana State Police (ISP). Huttle was reportedly armed during the incident, though the reason for his arrest remains unclear.
Huttle was among nearly 1,600 individuals pardoned or granted commutations by Trump last week for their roles in the 2021 Capitol riot. He had served six months in prison after pleading guilty to entering the Capitol for about ten minutes during the insurrection and was released in July 2024.
The officer involved in the shooting has been placed on paid administrative leave, and Indiana State Police are investigating the incident at the request of Jasper County Sheriff Patrick Williamson.
Huttle’s death follows recent legal troubles for other January 6 rioters who were pardoned, including Daniel Bell of Florida, who was rearrested on federal gun charges last week.
Indiana police said the officer involved in the shooting was placed on paid administrative leave.
“For full transparency, I requested the Indiana State Police to investigate this officer involved shooting,” Jasper County Sheriff Patrick Williamson said.
Huttle, and his uncle Dale Huttle, were among the hundreds of people who sentenced for storming the Capitol more than four years ago.
Huttle was in the US Capitol for some ten minutes during the riot and was ultimately sentenced to six months in prison as part of a plea deal. He was released from custody in July 2024.
His uncle previously said he had no regrets about taking part in the riot: “I’m not ashamed of being there. It was our duty as patriots.”
This is not the first case of a 6 January rioter facing trouble with the law following their pardon. Another of the group, Daniel Bell of Florida, was rearrested on federal gun charges last week.
Both Huttle and Bell were among the hundreds of 6 January defendants who had their charges dismissed by Trump during his first day back in the White House.
Among those who had their charges dismissed were some leaders of the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers – far-right organisations at the forefront of the riot.
“These people have been destroyed,” Trump said while announcing the pardons. “What they’ve (the justice system) done to these people is outrageous. There’s rarely been anything like it in the history of our country.”
But some have been critical of Trump’s pardoning of the rioters.
Over the weekend, Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, said it was a “mistake” to pardon or commute the sentences of “people who went into the Capitol and beat up a police officer violently.”
