Attack at Venezuelan parliament remains under investigation

Venezuelan lawmakers recall Wednesday attack

CARACAS, Venezuela – Blood still stained the walls of the Venezuelan parliament building on Friday. There was a hole on the door that leads to the main chamber.

These were solid reminders of the mob that attacked lawmakers Wednesday, when the country was celebration their independence from Spain. 

Supporters of President Nicolas Maduro rallied outside of the parliament. Armed with fireworks, sticks and stones, they rushed inside the building. A group of lawmakers tried to keep them from going inside. 

Lawmaker Leonard Regnault was among the injured. He said he required 17 stitches after a beating. He remembers someone striking him with a rock in the face and his glasses flying. 

"They came in here violently. The National Guard turned the other way, so that they could attack us," Regnault said.  when we tried to stop them, we took a beating with sticks, tubes, and rocks." 

Videos of the rumpus emerged. One shows a gunman firing his weapon upstairs in the archives department. There is a bullet hole on the window. 

"We were up in the window watching, and when I was getting down, the bullet comes through the window, and it hit me in the arm,"  

The bullet grazed him. He thinks a thick jacket prevented any injury.

Lawmakers blame President Nicolas Maduro for the conflict. Maduro condemned the act and an investigation was ongoing.