The number of people who died when a mob of Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol has risen to five after a police officer died from his injuries. Brian D. Sicknick was injured while physically engaging the protesters on Wednesday (January 6) and was rushed to the hospital.
He was pronounced dead around 9:30 p.m. ET on Thursday "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 Capitol Police said in a statement.
The U.S. attorney's office in Washington, D.C., has opened a federal murder investigation into Sicknick's death. The investigation is being conducted by the FBI, the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department, and the U.S. Capitol Police.
On Friday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ordered the flags at the Capitol to be flown at half-staff.
"On behalf of the House of Representatives, I send our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Officer Brian Sicknick, who died after defending the Capitol complex and protecting those who serve and work here," she said in a statement.
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