Mark Griffin never saw it coming.
He stood at the police line on the west side of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, engaged in friendly conversation with officers about why he had come to Washington.
Without warning, police picked up the metal bicycle racks that served as barricades and rushed forward into the crowd. Griffin was sprayed in the face with pepper gel.
Hell was breaking loose.
BOOM. THUD.
Griffin found himself on the ground, dazed and confused. He had a vague sensation that his left leg was injured just above the knee.
All around him, blinding flashes were punctuated by a whump and crack that knocked people off their feet….