The Justice Department says it will spare no resources in investigating the death, and possible murder, of Capitol Policeman Brian D. Sicknick during the disturbances that occurred on Wednesday in the United States Capitol building.
Brian Sicknick, a member of the Capitol Police First Aid Unit who joined the force in July 2008, was on duty on Wednesday when he was injured “while physically engaging protesters,” police said in a statement. The policeman passed out after the attack and was taken to a local hospital, where he died at 9:30 pm on Thursday.
Capitol Police said on Thursday night that officials from various agencies were investigating Sicknick’s death as a homicide, according to a statement from Capitol Police.
During a call on Friday, DOJ and FBI officials said they were “investigating the circumstances” of Officer Sicknick’s death together with his law enforcement partners and that it was “an active investigation”.
Capitol Officer Brian Sicknick
(US Capitol Police)
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and fellow officers of US Capitol police officer Brian D. Sicknick, who succumbed last night to his injuries defending the US Capitol against the violent crowd that invaded him on 6 de Janeiro “, acting attorney General Jeffrey A. Rosen said in a statement.
“The FBI and the Metropolitan Police Department will investigate the case together and the Justice Department will spare no resources to investigate and hold those responsible responsible.”
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Gillian Turner, Fox News correspondent, reported that Sicknick was “hit by a piece of metal” during the fight.
“The entire USCP department expresses its deepest condolences to Officer Sicknick’s family and friends for his loss, and regrets the loss of a friend and colleague,” the force said in a statement.
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Hundreds of police and emergency response teams lined the streets near the Capitol in Washington, DC, during the night to honor a dead US Capitol Police officer.
Police officers observed a moment of silence around midnight to honor officer Brian D. Sicknick, the fourth member of the force to die since it was founded almost 200 years ago, and the fifth death from the mutiny.
WUSA 9 reporter Mike Valerio posted a video of police officers standing on the road around midnight on Thursday, with the sirens of their cars running silently in honor. Valerio described the display as “impressive”.
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Political leaders also paid tribute to Sicknick, with spokeswoman Nancy Pelosi ordering the flags of the United States Capitol to be flown with half the staff to honor Officer Sicknick.
“Whenever a member of the police dies in the line of duty, it is a solemn reminder to all of us that they are running into danger to keep the peace,” Dep. Press secretary Judd Deere told Fox News. “The president and the entire administration extend our prayers to the family of Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, while we all mourn the loss of this American hero.”
Authorities reported that about 50 police officers were injured during the riots, with Sicknick so far being the only death among police officers defending the Capitol and Congress, according to The New York Times.
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Capitol Police reported making 14 arrests during the rebellion, with local police making dozens of additional arrests, mostly in connection with illegal entry and violating the city’s curfew on Wednesday night.