Rosanne Boyland was on the ground in a short tunnel leading into a west side entrance to the Capitol. Domestic terrorists continued pushing toward the police holding the line, throwing flags, board, metal fence posts and other items at the cops.
According to a video analysis by the New York Times, Boyland had fallen and was crushed under the swell of insurrectionists trying to push police out of the way and get into the Capitol. The 34-year-old woman, who was photographed earlier carrying a Gadsden flag bearing the words “Don’t Tread on Me,” was identified through her unique American flag-bedecked sunglasses, backpack and coat.
At one point during the onslaught, one of the protestors spotted her in distress, dragging her to the side of the door where others providing CPR. One of the protestors approached police officers to inform them there was a woman who had collapsed. Officers called for an ambulance.
Video shows that two and a half minutes later, the men aiding Boyland carried her to the door of the Capitol, where police broke the line to carry her into the Rotunda. As police took Boyland, a projectile–maybe a flagpole, maybe a wood pole–strike police officers.
Her lips already had a bluish tint and blood was dripping from her nose. Police could not find a pulse and continued CPR, waiting for the medical crew to arrive. Paramedics took her to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead at 6:09 p.m. ET, less than two hours after she was last seen standing at the door of the Capitol.
Contacted by the Times, her sister responded by text message saying that she was glad to get some answers about her death, but that it raised more questions.
Boyland’s brother-in-law was more blunt with his assessment, telling reporters, “Rosanne was really passionate about her beliefs, like a lot of people are. I’ve never tried to be a political person, but it’s my own personal belief that the president’s words incited a riot that killed four of his biggest fans last night.”