An Indiana man, recently pardoned for his role in the January 6 Capitol riot, was shot and killed during a traffic stop by a sheriff’s deputy on Sunday. The incident took place in Jasper County, leaving many shocked and raising questions.
The man, 42-year-old Matthew Huttle, was pulled over around 4:15 p.m. by a deputy from the Jasper County Sheriff’s Department. According to the authorities, things escalated when Huttle resisted arrest. During the altercation, the deputy discovered Huttle was carrying a firearm.
As tensions rose, the situation took a tragic turn. “An altercation took place between the suspect and the officer, which resulted in the officer firing his weapon and fatally wounding the suspect,” said a statement from the sheriff’s office.
Jasper County Sheriff Patrick Williamson has since asked the Indiana State Police to investigate the incident. As per department policy, the deputy involved has been placed on paid administrative leave. Sheriff Williamson expressed his sympathies to Huttle’s family, acknowledging the pain caused by such a loss. “Any loss of life is traumatic to those who were close to Mr. Huttle,” he said, promising more details once the investigation progresses.
The local coroner officially identified Huttle and conducted an autopsy on Monday morning. However, no further details about the incident have been shared.
Huttle had gained attention as one of many individuals involved in the January 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol. That day, hundreds of supporters of then-President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol in an attempt to disrupt the certification of Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory.
Court documents reveal that Huttle had pleaded guilty in August 2023 to charges of entering and remaining in a restricted area of the Capitol. By November 2023, he was sentenced to six months in federal prison and an additional 12 months of supervised release. However, his legal troubles ended earlier this month when Trump, following his inauguration, issued pardons to roughly 1,500 individuals involved in the riot, including Huttle.
According to investigators, Huttle was at the Capitol with his uncle on January 6. Evidence included videos from Huttle’s own Google account, where he could be heard saying, “I’m going to see if we can get inside.” Security footage also showed him in areas like the Capitol crypt during the riot.
Huttle’s uncle also faced charges and pleaded guilty. His case was more severe—he was sentenced to 30 months in prison, along with three years of supervised release. Prosecutors said the uncle was seen on video assaulting officers on the Capitol steps with a flagpole. Like Huttle, he was also pardoned by Trump earlier this month.
This unexpected turn of events—culminating in Huttle’s death during the traffic stop—has added another layer of complexity to a story already steeped in controversy. For now, the investigation continues as authorities work to piece together exactly what happened during Sunday’s fatal encounter.
