Paul Pelosi underwent a successful surgery early Friday and is expected to make a full recovery after having been attacked with a hammer at his home, Drew Hammill, a spokesman for Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office, has said.
Hammill further detailed in a Friday release that Pelosi was admitted to Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, and that he successfully underwent surgery to repair a skull fracture and injuries to his right arm and hands.
Bill Scott, the police chief of the San Francisco Police Department, detailed at a Friday press conference that when officers responded to the Pelosi home, they found suspect David DePape and Pelosi both holding onto a hammer. However, it wasn’t until officers instructed the pair to drop the weapon that DePape proceeded to strike Pelosi at least once.
“Our officers immediately tackled the suspect, disarmed him, took him into custody, requested emergency backup and rendered medical aid,” Scott detailed. The altercation was captured on a police body-camera, according to sources close to the police.
Scott added that officials were unsure of DePape’s medical condition, but that the incident was not a random act. Officials have yet to release an official motive for the attack. Felony charges are expected to be filed in the coming days.
A security detail was not at the Pelosi residence on account of the House speaker not being on the grounds, which made it significantly easier for the attacker to breach the household, Scott noted.
“Everybody should be disgusted about what happened this morning,” the police chief told reporters.
According to reports, Pelosi, who is 82, surreptitiously dialed 911 on his cellphone shortly after 2 a.m. local time, when the assailant broke into the home from the backside of the house while repeatedly screaming “Where’s Nancy?” The shouts were captured by the 911 operator, which managed to record the attack in progress.
With Pelosi calmly speaking to DePape, asking his attacker questions like “What do you plan to do to me” and “Why are you here,” police issued a “priority A wellness call” for the Pelosi residence.
US President Joe Biden has condemned the incident, calling it a “horrible attack” and praising Pelosi’s anticipated “full recovery.” Aside from the commander-in-chief, the home invasion has been blasted by various congressional lawmakers, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY).
DePape was not known to US Capitol Police and was not already listed in any database tracking federal threats, and the investigation is ongoing. Reports have indicated that USCP may be able to utilize security footage from the home to assist in the matter.