Daughter of slain Capitol police officer captured wiping mother’s tears as he lies in honor

The 7-year-old daughter of William “Billy” Evans, the Capitol Police officer who died in a car attack at a security barricade outside of the Capitol this month, was seen wiping a tear from her mother’s face during a ceremony Tuesday honoring her father.

The clip spread quickly on social media of Abigail wiping the tear from her mother, Shannon Terranova, as lawmakers and others memorialized Evans as he laid in honor in the Capitol Rotunda.

The daughter of the Capitol police officer that was killed during a vehicle attack earlier this month wipes away her mother’s tears as his body lie in honor. https://t.co/tHmd3Ls7Bz

An earlier version misstated when the officer died. pic.twitter.com/tr8QP6fbmc

— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) April 13, 2021

Evans was killed April 2 when a man rammed his car into a security checkpoint on Capitol Hill, crashing into him and another Capitol Police officer stationed there. 

He is the second Capitol Police officer to receive the rare honor this year, following Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, who died from injuries sustained during the Jan. 6. riot.

President Biden addressed the gathering Tuesday, addressing Evans’s family and recounting his own experiences with losing family members. Biden lost his first wife and daughter in a car accident, and his son died from brain cancer in 2015.

“My prayer for all of you is that a day will come when you have that memory and you smile before you bring a tear to your eyes,” Biden said. “I promise you it’s going to come. It just takes a while.”

“Your son, your husband, your brother, your dad was a hero. And he’s part of you,” Biden added.

At one point in the ceremony, Biden was seen picking up Abigail Evans’s toy, a model of the Capitol dome, after it dropped on the floor. The president handed it back to her while House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) was delivering comments during the ceremony.

“A greater compliment does no one have than the president of the United States looking after your toys,” Pelosi said with a laugh. 

Evans’s son, Logan, 9, was seen at the ceremony wearing his father’s police cap. Biden gave him a coin after delivering remarks.

President Biden gives U.S. Capitol Police Officer William Evans’ son Logan a coin after remarks at memorial service.

Full video: https://t.co/SWafJnzJRW pic.twitter.com/29cOOPly0w

— CSPAN (@cspan) April 13, 2021