Politics
How Capitol attacker Noah Green went from college football star to paranoid Nation of Islam follower on deadly mission
A PROMISING college football star descended into a world of paranoia before he allegedly rammed a car into a barricade at the US Capitol and killed a cop.
Noah Green, 25, was shot at the scene and later died from his injuries after he allegedly ploughed his Nissan Altima into the security cordon in Washington DC on Friday.
Noah Green was once a promising young athlete[/caption]
Green was shot dead after ramming his car into a Capitol police barricade[/caption]
Green is said to have lived in a world of paranoid delusions[/caption]
Green leapt from his vehicle with a knife at about 1pm before being gunned down by cops – but not before killing Capitol police officer Billy Evans.
He was not known to security services and the shocking incident as sparked new fears over the security of the Senate and Congress following the riot on January 6.
Once a star of his college football team, Green graduated with a degree in finance from Christopher Newport University (CNU) in Virginia in 2019.
His life spiraled out of control in the next two years as the young man was overcome by paranoia and depression.
Facebook posts which have since been deleted reportedly show how Green became increasingly disturbed.
He believed he was the victim of federal “mind control”, a common conspiracy theory trope.
“Satan’s rule over us is up,” he said, in a Facebook post on March 17, and also boasted he had been “chosen” for a mission.
He also made numerous posts regarding the Nation of Islam, a religious movement that combines Muslim beliefs with black nationalism.
Green was one of ten children, growing up with seven sisters and two brothers, in Fairlea, West Virginia, a small, poor rural community close to the border with Virginia.
By the time he was in high school he had moved to Covington across the state line and attended Alleghany High School.
He was a distinguished athlete as he played football and ran track, earning All-District, All-Conference, and team MVP honors in 2013.
CNU confirmed he attended the university and played on their football team in fall seasons in 2017 and 2018.
Green believed he was being targeted by the FBI and CIA for ‘mind control’ experiments[/caption]
Green credited the leader of Nation of Islam, Louis Farrakhan, with saving him from the “terrible afflictions” which he had suffered – blaming the CIA, FBI and the other agencies.
He claimed his troubles began when he became convinced a former teammate and roommate was drugging him with Xanax.
The football player claimed the episode left him addicted to the drug and that it triggered his mental health problems.
“I have suffered multiple home break ins, food poisonings, assaults, unauthorized operations in the hospital, mind control,” he claimed on Instagram.
Those who knew him believe he made up the story about how he got hooked on Xanax.
His brother Brendan told The Washington Post that Green suffered hallucinations, heart palpitations, headaches and suicidal thoughts.
The two lived together in an apartment in Virginia, with Green moving in two weeks ago after his family became increasingly concerned with his mental state.
Green started to lose control of his life in 2019 after he became convinced pals were drugging him[/caption]
Brendan said his brother was violently ill the night before the attack, and revealed on Thursday he sent him a cryptic text message.
Green wrote: “I’m sorry but I’m just going to go and live and be homeless. Thank you for everything that you’ve done.
“I looked up to you when I was a kid. You inspired me a lot.”
Before moving with his brother, he had moved to Indianapolis reportedly in pursuit of drugs and tried to legally change his name to Noah Zaeem Muhammad.
Facebook confirmed to CNN it had axed his accounts under its policy on dangerous individuals and organizations.
Numerous posts showed him sharing conspiracy theories that he was being targeted by the CIA and FBI.
And in one post just hours before the attack, he branded the federal government the “#1 enemy of Black People”.
Green’s attack has renewed focus on security at the Capitol[/caption]
The car rammed the barrier before Green leapt out with a knife[/caption]
Green had also spent some time in Botswana a few months ago on a kind of spiritual mission.
He had confided in his brother his mind was telling him to take his own life, and at one point he jumped in front a car.
In one post on March 17, he wrote: “To be honest these past few years have been tough, and these past few months have been tougher,’ he said.
“I have been tried with some of the biggest, unimaginable tests in my life.
“I am currently now unemployed after I left my job partly due to afflictions, but ultimately, in search of a spiritual journey.”
He credited the Nation of Islam for saving him and described its leader, Farrakhan, as “Jesus, the Messiah”.
Green also appeared to rename himself “Noah X” and revealed he had sent $1,085 as a donation to the Nation of Islam.
Capitol police officer Billy Evans died in the attack[/caption]
A police procession escorts the body of Evans[/caption]
Green wrote:” I consider him my (Farrakhan) spiritual father. Without his guidance, his word, and his teachings that I’ve picked up on along the way, I would’ve been unable to continue.
“Preaching to the multitudes, calling a million black men to Washington, and standing up to the most powerful government of modern times. He has done miraculous work not just with me, but with the lives of millions.”
He added: “I was on the right track and everything I had planned was coming into existence. It required long hours, lots of studying, and exercise to keep me balanced while experiencing an array of concerning symptoms along the path (I believe to be side effects of drugs I was intaking unknowingly).
“However, the path has been thwarted, as Allah (God) has chosen me for other things.”
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President Joe Biden said he was “heartbroken” at the news of Evans’ killing and ordered the flags at the White House at half-mast following the attack at the Capitol.
Following the tragic news, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ordered flags to be flown half-staff at the US Capitol.
She said in a statement on Friday that Evans was “a martyr for democracy.”
“Today, America’s heart has been broken by the tragic and heroic death of one of our Capitol Police Heroes.”
