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| Photo Credit: AP. |
Police authorities said the suspect who attacked Paul Pelosi, Husband of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is 42-year-old David Depape whose motive for the crime is still under “active investigation.”
Speaking at
a brief news conference the San Francisco Police Department Chief Bill Scott said
officers were dispatched to the crime scene at approximately 2:27 a.m. for “A
priority well-being check.” When authorities arrived on the scene, they
observed a 42-year-old male and Paul Pelosi “both holding a hammer.”
“The suspect
pulled the hammer away from Mr. Pelosi and violently assaulted him with it,”
Scott said, according to The Hill.
He noted
that officers “immediately tackled the suspect, disarmed him” and took him into
custody, adding the suspect and Paul Pelosi were transported to a local
hospital for treatment.
The police
boss said the suspect will be booked at the San Francisco County on a number of
charges including attempted homicide, assault with a deadly weapon and
burglary, adding there will be “several other additional felonies,” The Hill
reported.
Scott said
authorities are still investigating the motive for the crime.
The suspect
reportedly entered the home through a sliding glass door and wielded a hammer.
Pelosi
spokesman Drew Hammill said the husband of the California Democrat was taken to
hospital and is expected to make a full recovery from the deadly assault.
“Early this
morning, an assailant broke into the Pelosi residence in San Francisco and
violently assaulted Mr. Pelosi.
“The
assailant is in custody and the motivation for the attack is under
investigation. Mr. Pelosi was taken to the hospital, where he is receiving
excellent medical care and is expected to make a full recovery,” Hammill said.
“The speaker was not in San Francisco at the time.”
U.S. Capitol
Police said the speaker was in Washington, D.C., with her security details as
at the time of the attack, according to The Hill.
The attack
is believed to have occurred at about 2:27 a.m., according to a tweet by Sgt.
Adam Lobsinger of the San Francisco Police Department who said officers were
responding to a break in.
Pelosi
suffered blunt force trauma to his head and body and was treated for a number
of injuries and bruising after the attacker smashed him with a hammer, according
to The Associated Press.
At the press
conference San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins praised law
enforcement for their handling of the matter.
"I do
want to commend the San Francisco Police Department for their immediate
response to this home and for swiftly making sure that Mr. Pelosi was OK and
that the suspect was apprehended," she said. "We are working closely
with them right now with respect to the investigation, and we'll proceed with
the appropriate charges."
President
Joe Biden condemned the attack and said he was praying for the Pelosi family.