WASHINGTON, D.C. – As the third anniversary of the violent attack on the U.S. Capitol approaches, former U.S. Capitol Police Sergeant Aquilino Gonell reflects on the harrowing experience that led him to leave the department after more than 16 years of service.
Gonell, one of the officers on the frontlines during the Jan. 6, 2021 attack, shared his personal account with the Washington News Bureau, detailing the fear he experienced and the physical injuries he sustained.
“I lived it. I survived it,” Gonell said, revealing that the attack led to his decision to leave the force in December of 2022. The toll of the events he endured on that day, both during and after the attack, pushed him to leave his law enforcement career.
Gonell, who is also a war veteran having served in the Iraq War, described the attack as more terrifying than his time serving in the war-torn country. He has faced emotional and physical challenges, including hand and foot injuries that required surgery, in the years following the attack.
The former officer expressed disappointment in the attitude of some individuals who downplay the severity of the events that unfolded on that day, emphasizing the personal impact it had on him and his colleagues who defended the Capitol. He also voiced concern about the potential for another attack, particularly in the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election.
Gonell’s account serves as a reminder of the trauma and lasting effects of the Capitol attack, as the nation continues to grapple with the aftermath of the events on January 6th, 2021.