Record at a Glance
- Category
- Jan 6th
- Age in NPR record
- 32
- Location
- Washington, D.C.
- Charges
- Civil Disorder; Obstruction of an Official Proceeding; Assaulting, Resisting, or Impeding Certain Officers Using a Dangerous Weapon; 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 with a Deadly or Dangerous Weapon; Disorderly Conduct in a Capitol Building
- Case status
- Pleaded not guilty; Convicted; Dismissed in part or full
Case Summary
Soon after the attack on the Capitol, the FBI released several photos of people who allegedly joined in the rioting and asked the public for help in identifying them. One of the people sought by investigators, according to court documents, was wearing a blue jacket and black sunglasses and at one point used a Taser while "pushing himself through the crowd of violent individuals towards the police line that was protecting the entrance to the U.S. Capitol building." The use of a Taser was significant because a Capitol Police officer told investigators that he had been shocked by a Taser on the back of his neck during the violence and had to be hospitalized after having a heart attack. The "Be on the Lookout" posters led the FBI to Vitali GossJankowski. GossJankowski turned himself in to police after seeing the poster, the records indicate, and told FBI agents in an interview, that "he found [the Taser] on the ground when he was walking up towards the U.S. Capitol." He said he never entered the Capitol building itself. GossJankowski allegedly told the FBI that "he did not use his Taser" on the injured officer, but "if he touched him, he touched his helmet and it was merely to help him." Local media reports indicate that GossJankowski is a student at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C.
Case History
GossJankowski pleaded Not Guilty to all charges. In a Jury trial concluded on 3/16/2023, he was found Guilty on three charges: Civil Disorder; Obstruction of an Official Proceeding; Disorderly Conduct in a Capitol Building. Also Guilty on three lesser charges: Assaulting, Resisting, or Impeding Certain Officers; Entering and Remaining in a Restricted Building or Grounds; Disorderly and Disruptive Conduct in a Restricted Building or Grounds. The court dismissed the Obstruction conviction on 8/2/2024. Sentencing set for 3/4/2025. On 1/22/2025, the court ordered that the case is dismissed without prejudice.
Sources
- Primary Documentation
NPR Jan. 6 Defendant DatabaseNPR - Primary Documentation
Underlying court recordCourt record linked by NPR - Supporting Reporting
NPR video evidence pageNPR
Case summary, charges, procedural updates and image are drawn from the NPR Jan. 6 archive snapshot dated 2026-09-25 unless otherwise indicated.