U.S. Capitol Police officer dies after attack on Congress
A U.S. Capitol Police officer has died after engaging with rioters in Wednesday’s violent insurrection of a Trump supporting mob.
"Brian D. Sicknick passed away due to injuries sustained while on-duty," the U.S. Capitol Police said in a statement late Thursday. "He returned to his division office and collapsed. He was taken to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries."
Sicknick had served in the USCP since 2008 and was recently in the First Responders' Unit.
Four other people died during Wednesday’s siege of the Capitol. One of them was a 35-year-old woman who was shot inside the Capitol as she climbed through a window. Three others died due to medical emergencies.
More than 50 law enforcement officials were injured and several were hospitalized, USCP said earlier Thursday.
The growing number of deaths from the unprecedented attack on Capitol Hill comes as the enormous complex faces a reckoning over its security, including the operations of its roughly 1,800-member police force. On Thursday, Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund, Senate Sergeant-At-Arms Michael Stenger and House Sergeant-At-Arms Paul Irving all resigned.
Sicknick was initially in critical condition when reports of his death surfaced. But USCP confirmed in a statement that he died Thursday at about 9:30 p.m. USCP, the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch and federal law enforcement will investigate Sicknick's death.
Congressional leaders mourned Sicknick's passing on Friday morning. Speaker Nancy Pelosi ordered the Capitol's flags to be flown at half-mast in his honor.
"The violent and deadly act of insurrection targeting the Capitol, our temple of American Democracy, and its workers was a profound tragedy and stain on our nation’s history," Pelosi said. "But because of the heroism of our first responders and the determination of the Congress, we were not, and we will never be, diverted from our duty to the Constitution and the American people."
Kevin McCarthy, the Republican House leader who was among the lawmakers to object to certification of President-elect Joe Biden's Electoral College victory, praised Sicknick for his service.
"Brian was valiantly protecting more than this building and the people inside — he was protecting every American's way of life," McCarthy said in a statement. "We are forever indebted to him for that."
House Appropriations Committee Chair Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) and House Appropriations Legislative Branch Subcommittee Chair Tim Ryan (D-Ohio) also released a joint statement late Thursday evening.
“This tragic loss should remind all of us of the bravery of the law enforcement officers who protected us, our colleagues, Congressional staff, the press corps, and other essential workers yesterday," the lawmakers wrote. “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.”
Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) said in a statement early Friday that the news was "gut-wrenching."
"None of this should have happened," Sasse said. "Our country aches for the families who mourn. Lord, have mercy."
The White House also extended condolences mid-day Friday in honor of Sicknick's passing, though Trump, who incited the riot in remarks earlier Wednesday on the Ellipse, has not personally addressed the officer's death in public.
"Anytime a member of law enforcement dies in the line of duty it's a solemn reminder that they run toward danger to maintain peace," spokesman Judd Deere wrote on Twitter. "President @realDonaldTrump & the entire Admin. extend our prayers to Officer Brian Sicknick’s family as we all grieve the loss of this American hero."
Melanie Zanona contributed to this report.
