A POLICE officer has passed away after sustaining catastrophic injuries during the chaos at the Capitol earlier this week.
On 6 January, hundreds of Trump supporters scaled walls and broke windows to gain entry to the Capitol, where Electoral Votes were being confirmed, in an attempt to stop Joe Biden from being elected.
Lawmakers were evacuated from the building, and photographs of the incident show rioters damaging property, occupying offices inside the building-- including that of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the Chamber itself-- and facing off against police.
The United States Capitol Police have now confirmed that one officer has died from injuries sustained during a physical engagement with the Trump mob.
The deceased officer has been named as Officer Brian D Sicknick, who joined the USCP in 2008.
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 06: Capitol Hill policemen arrive as crowds gather outside the U.S. Capitol for the "Stop the Steal" rally on January 06, 2021 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Robert Nickelsberg/Getty Images)A statement from the USCP confirmed the tragic news just hours ago, stating that Officer Sicknick passed away at 9.30pm on 7 January "due to injuries sustained while on-duty".
"Officer Sicknick was responding to the riots on Wednesday, January 6, 2021, at the U.S. Capitol and was injured while physically engaging with protesters. He returned to his division office and collapsed. He was taken to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. The death of Officer Sicknick will be investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch, the USCP, and our federal partners.
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 06: Protesters supporting U.S. President Donald Trump break into the U.S. Capitol on January 06, 2021 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)"Officer Sicknick joined the USCP in July 2008, and most recently served in the Department’s First Responder’s Unit.
"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 force asked that people respect the privacy of Officer Sicknick's family, and other USCP officers and their families privacy at this difficult time.
Officer Sicknick's death brings to five the number of people who were killed as a result of the riot on the Capitol.
A US Air Veteran was shot dead by police as she stormed the building, and three others died of 'separate medical emergencies' while on the grounds.
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