Despite persistent uncertainty, Sicknick’s death became a symbol of the extreme violence of the January 6 riots. House Democrats repeatedly quoted him during the impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump earlier this month, and President Joe Biden paid tribute to Sicknick, who paid tribute on Capitol Hill.
More than 100 other Capitol and Washington, DC, police officers were injured during the disturbances, some seriously, and two died by suicide in the days following the insurrection. Four protesters also died, including one shot by an official who defended the Chamber of Deputies.
For almost two months, the Capitol Police refused to provide details about the circumstances of Sicknick’s death. The acting chief, Yogananda Pittman, told lawmakers on Thursday that she considered the death for “doing duty,” but said nothing more about the circumstances.
A statement from the Capitol Police on Friday suggested that further actions in relation to Sicknick would have to await details on the cause of death.
“The coroner’s report on the death of police officer Brian Sicknick, who followed the attack on the Capitol on January 6, is not yet complete,” the agency said. told CNN. “We are awaiting the results of the toxicology and continue to work with other government agencies regarding the death investigation.”
Sicknick died at 9:30 pm on January 7, the Capitol Police revealed in a statement that night, describing him as “injured while physically involved with the protesters”.
“He went back to his division’s office and collapsed,” said the agency at the time. “He was taken to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.”
Prosecutors and Capitol Police officials indicated that several participants in the January 6 rebellion distributed pepper spray, bear spray, apple and other chemical irritants to the police. A capitol police captain, Carneysha Mendoza, told a Senate committee on Tuesday that she watched protesters pouring “military-grade CS” gas into the Capitol itself.
On Friday, court officials revealed a criminal case against a suspect, Daniel Caldwell, of Texas, who claimed in a video recorded on January 6 that he shot policemen during a confrontation on the Capitol stairs.
“According to Caldwell, once the police sprayed him, Caldwell sprayed against the police [sic] and I believed he sprayed about 15 policemen, ”according to the FBI testimony that supports the case.
The FBI presentation, dated February 8, also included images of videos posted publicly showing a man believed to be Caldwell shooting at Capitol officials.