Officer Brian D. Sicknick died on Thursday night after being wounded while on-duty during Wednesday’s undertaken riot, a Capitol Police spokesperson confirmed.
Police announced earlier on Thursday that the mob “actively attacked” officers with metal pipes and chemical nuisances such as tear gas. More than 50 Capitol and DC police officers were wounded in the violence, and numerous were hospitalized with serious wounds.
Sicknick was wounded while “physically engaging” with rioters, then subsided to his division, where he deteriorated, as reported by the police. He was carried to a hospital, where he died afterward.
Sicknick enrolled in Capitol Police in 2008 and recently served in its first responders unit.
Two House Democrats who are initiating an investigation into Capitol Police’s negligences during Wednesday’s attempted riot grieved for Sicknick’s death.
They asserted, “Our hearts break over the senseless death of United States Capitol Police Officer Brian D. Sicknick, who was injured in the line of duty during yesterday’s violent assault on the Capitol,”
Reps. Rosa DeLauro and Tim Ryan said in a joint statement. “Our prayers are with his family, friends, and colleagues on the force … To honor Officer Sicknick’s memory, we must ensure that the mob who attacked the People’s House and those who instigated them are held fully accountable.”
“The entire USCP Department expresses its deepest sympathies to Officer Sicknick’s family and friends on their loss and mourns the loss of a friend and colleague,” the Capitol Police statement asserted.
U.S. Capitol Police Statement on Loss of Officer Brian D. Sicknick:
"At approximately 9:30 p.m. this evening (January 7, 2021), United States Capitol Police Officer Brian D. Sicknick passed away due to injuries sustained while on-duty." RIP
— Craig Caplan (@CraigCaplan) January 8, 2021
While protecting the U.S. House and Senate overrun by rioters Wednesday, Capitol Police also were compelled to protect themselves. Three congressional and at least 60 officers underwent injuries.
Four Trump followers also died in the violence. Ashli Babbitt, a 35-year-old Air Force veteran and follower in the QAnon mass delusion, was shot in the neck by the officer as the insurrectionists were striking their way toward the House Chamber where members of Congress were safeguarding in place.
Three others — Benjamin Philips, 50, Roseanne Boyland, 34, and Kevin Greeson, 55 — died after suffering medical crises during the chaos.
It took four hours to scatter the protesters from the Capitol complex. By then, they had wandered the halls of Congress, stood for photos inside hallowed chambers, broken through doors, demolished property, and taken pictures of themselves doing it. At least 80 people were charged, but it will take time to sort through all the footage to specify who should be arrested and with what.
Steven Sund, the chief of the Capitol Police, declared on Thursday afternoon that he would withdraw his position. Speaker Nancy Pelosi had summoned for his resignation earlier in the day. “There was a failure of leadership at the top,” she told journalists. “Mr. Sund, he hasn’t even called us.”
Capitol Police have confirmed they made at least 14 arrests on Wednesday.
Federal prosecutors told Thursday that they have so far filed 55 unlawful cases in relationship with the violence and destruction.
Trump himself may also be interrogated for possibly provoking the violence, US Attorney Michael Sherwin for the District of Columbia informed the reporters.
“We’re looking at all actors,” Sherwin said. “Anyone who had a role and the events fit the elements of a crime, they’re going to be charged.”
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