VIDEO: Water Cannons Salute Officer Killed In Pentagon Attack

Arlington VA

12 August, 2021

4:23 PM

Description

ARLINGTON, VA — Crews at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport used water cannons Thursday to salute the airplane carrying the body of the Pentagon Force Protection Agency officer who was killed last week during a violent attack at the Pentagon, according to a post on the PFPA's official Twitter account. PFPA posted a video showing the American Airlines plane carrying Officer George Gonzalez's body as it moved away from the terminal at the airport. "MSU to all units. You can show Corp. George Gonzalez, badge number 1101, on his final flight home. MSU clear," a voice on the video said. As the plane taxied between two lines of honor guards toward the runway, two water cannons fired arcs of water overhead. "Corp. George Gonzalez, badge number 1101. Godspeed," the voice said. Gonzalez was on the Pentagon Transit Center platform on the morning of Aug. 3 when a man exiting a bus attacked him with a knife without provocation, according to the FBI. The assailant, whom the FBI later identified as Austin William Lanz, 27, of Acworth, Georgia, struggled with Gonzalez and then shot himself with Gonzalez's service weapon. Other PFPA officers engaged with Lanz, who died at the scene. Gonzalez was transported to George Washington University Hospital in Washington, D.C. to be treated for severe injuries. He was pronounced dead later that evening. Thursday's salute was the latest honor to be bestowed on Gonzalez by military and public safety personnel in the Washington, D.C. area. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III ordered all flags at the Pentagon to fly at half-mast in honor of Gonzalez, and on Friday, a memorial was held in the building's parking lot. On Sunday, the Gonzalez/Rubert family started a memorial fund by launching a GoFundMe campaign. "Our family is heartbroken over the death of our son and brother, but we are so extremely proud of the life he lived," Gonzalez/Rubert Family said, on the GoFundMe. "George devoted himself to serving his country in the military and as a law enforcement officer." As of 4:15 p.m. on Thursday, the campaign had already raised more than $23,000. Related: Family Of Fallen Pentagon Officer Launches GoFundMe Campaign Police Officer Fatally Stabbed At Pentagon Transit Facility Final Salute: @PFPAOfficial Corporal George Gonzalez was honored with a water cannon salute during @Reagan_Airport Ramp Ceremony. pic.twitter.com/f7t0LXCsaI— Pentagon Force Protection Agency (Official) (@PFPAOfficial) August 12, 2021