Record at a Glance
- Category
- Jan 6th
- Age in NPR record
- 31
- Location
- Tennessee
- Charges
- Civil Disorder; Assaulting, Resisting, or Impeding Certain Officers; Assaulting, Resisting, or Impeding Certain Officers Using a Dangerous Weapon (2 counts); Entering and Remaining in a Restricted Building or Grounds with a Deadly or Dangerous Weapon; Disorderly and Disruptive Conduct in a Restricted Building or Grounds; Engaging in Physical Violence in a Restricted Building or Grounds; Disorderly Conduct in a Capitol Building; Act of Physical Violence in the Capitol Building or Grounds; Parading, Demonstrating, or Picketing in a Capitol Building
- Case status
- Pleaded not guilty; Dismissed in part or full
Case Summary
Two tipsters alerted the FBI that they believed Shannon Bitzer was in the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Video and police body-worn camera footage show Bitzer wearing a backwards red “MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN” cap outside the North Doors of the building, according to a court document. Bitzer moves a barrier and approaches Capitol Police officers who were defending the entrance, yelling “We want to go in the Capitol! We want to go in!” He then allegedly holds the North Door open, blocking an officer with his arm, yelling “Get in patriots, get in!” Court documents say he went inside for a minute, then is pushed out and joins other rioters in fighting against the officers trying to close the doors. He was arrested on Jan. 30, 2024.
Case History
Bitzer pleaded Not Guilty to all charges. Jury Trial set for 3/3/2025. On 2/17/2025, the court grants the government’s motion to dismiss the case with prejudice.
Sources
- Primary Documentation
NPR Jan. 6 Defendant DatabaseNPR - Primary Documentation
Underlying court recordCourt record linked by NPR
Case summary, charges, procedural updates and image are drawn from the NPR Jan. 6 archive snapshot dated 2026-09-25 unless otherwise indicated.