WASHINGTON D.C., DC — "A leader, not a follower." That's what a federal judge called Bruceville-Eddy's Christopher Grider after he was found guilty on all felony and misdemeanor counts in his involvement in the Jan. 6 Capitol Riot.
"Grider was a leader, not a follower, during the insurrection of Jan. 6, 2021," U.S. Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly said in newly obtained court documents. "At each key interval, Grider beckoned fellow rioters onward, all in an effort to disrupt the constitutionally-consecrated certification of the Presidential Election of 2020."
Grider, 41, was found guilty on nine total charges. He pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor charges prior to his bench trial.
Below are the charges he was found guilty of Wednesday:
- Obstructing officers during civil disorder
- Corruptly obstructing an official proceeding
- Injuring, damaging or destroying government property
- Disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building
- Engaging in physical violence in a restricted building
- Violent entry and disorderly conduct in a Capitol building
- Act of physical violence in a Capitol building
Evidence presented in the trial showed Grider was actively participating in the riot, according to court documents.
Grider entered the Capitol around 2:14 p.m. with a crowd of rioters who pushed through a police line, a news release said. He then used a bike rack to climb the terrace stairs.
"At one point, stopping to wave rioters toward the Capitol," the news release said.
Once inside, Grider tried to encourage rioters to cut the power and tried to cut the power at an electric utility box, the news release said.
When it didn't work, Grider joined another group of rioters and pushed through another police line, the release continues.
"After taking a picture of a map of the Capitol, and exclaiming, “We gotta get into the Chamber!,” Grider proceeded to the hallway outside of the House Chamber, where he waved more rioters in. After this group of rioters pushed through the police line that stood between the mob and the House Main Door, Grider stood with other rioters directly outside of the House Main Door, as they attempted to get inside the House Chamber."
Court documents also say Grider "wielded a police officer's helmet against officers themselves, turning shield into sword."
Grider then watched members of Congress and staff evacuate. He gave his helmet to another rioter, who then used it to break windows in the door, the news release says.
At that point, others were screaming "gun" and an officer fired a single gunshot, which struck and killed 35-year-old Ashli Babbitt from Southern California, the news release says.
"After the shooting, police ordered rioters to move away from the scene. Grider remained and could be seen leaning over the railing to get a better glimpse of the woman bleeding on the floor," the news release said. "Grider was holding his phone over the stairway appearing to capture a video or pictures of the woman."
Following the events, Grider was arrested in Austin on Jan. 21, 2021.
His sentencing trial is scheduled for May 23, 2023. He faces up to nearly 40 years in prison.