A Capitol police officer in the United States has died from injuries sustained during a clash with a mob of President Donald Trump’s supporters who overheard a congressional session, police said late Thursday.
Officer Brian D. Sicknick died on Thursday from injuries sustained while on duty and physically engaged by protesters at the US Capitol, a statement said.
It was the first law-abiding death following Wednesday’s violence at the Capitol that saw flag-waving crowds overwhelm the police and break into the legislature as Congress voted on the ballot box to confirm Democrat Joe Biden won the election.
Sicknick, a 12-year veteran of the force, “responded to the riots on Wednesday, January 6, 2021 in the US capital and was injured when he physically engaged in protesters,” the Capitol Police said in a statement.
“He returned to his division office and collapsed. He was taken to a local hospital where he was killed for his injuries “on Thursday night, it says.
Democratic leaders of the House Appropriations Committee said the “tragic loss” of a Capitol police officer “should remind us all of the courage of the law enforcement officials who protected us, our colleagues, congressional staff, the press and other important workers ″ during the hours-long takeover of Capitol of pro-Trump protesters.
Four protesters died in the violence, including a woman who was shot by police. Three other deaths were reported on the Capitol grounds, but the circumstances remained unclear.
Sicknick’s death will be investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch, the USCP and federal law enforcement.
( Jowharwith AFP and AP)
