San Francisco authorities have identified the man allegedly responsible for violently attackingNancy Pelosi’s husband,Paul Pelosi, with a hammer early Friday morning.
David Depape, 42, was taken into custody in connection with the attack and will be booked on charges of attempted homicide, assault with a deadly weapon, elder abuse, burglary, and “several” additional felonies, according to San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott. The suspect has not yet entered a plea or spoken out about the allegations against him.
In a brief press conference, Scott said that officers arrived at the Pelosis' San Francisco home shortly before 2:30 a.m. local time to conduct a wellness check. Inside the house, they allegedly encountered Paul, 82, and the suspect both holding onto a hammer. Then, Scott said, “the suspect pulled the hammer away from Mr. Pelosi and violently assaulted him with it.”
For more on this story, listen below to our daily podcast PEOPLE Every Day.
“Our officers immediately tackled the suspect, disarmed him, took him into custody, requested emergency backup and rendered medical aid,” Scott said.
Charles Sykes/Invision/AP/Shutterstock
Sources briefed on the attack were told that Depape breached the home in search of the House speaker, CNN reports. The intruder allegedly shouted, “Where is Nancy, where is Nancy?”
He eventually found her husband, Paul, according to CNN’s sources, and tried tying him up “until Nancy got home.” He was still “waiting for Nancy” to arrive when police showed up.
According to U.S. Capitol Police, who are assisting with the investigation, Nancy, 82, was in Washington, D.C. with her protective detail at the time of the attack. Paul was hospitalized, and while Nancy’s spokesperson said Friday morning that he is “expected to make a full recovery,” later reports revealed thathe is undergoing skull surgeryas a result of the assault.
Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty
San Francisco authorities, in partnership with the FBI and U.S. Capitol Police, are still determining a possible motive for the violent break-in.
On Friday morning, PresidentJoe Bidencalled Speaker Pelosi to extend his support for the family, with the White House releasing a statement that Biden “continues to condemn all violence, and asks that the family’s desire for privacy be respected.”
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer.
The Pelosi home in San Francisco after Paul was attacked.Justin Sullivan/Getty
On Jan. 6, 2021,when rioters descended on the U.S. Capitol, many were in search of the speaker,occupying her office, stealing her property and defacing her belongings. One rioter left a note atop a police vehicle saying, “PELOSI IS SATAN.”
After Friday’s violent attack, Nancy’s spokesperson said, “The Speaker and her family are grateful to the first responders and medical professionals involved.”
source: people.com
