Second Officer Commits Suicide After Responding to Capitol Siege – By Paul D. Shinkman (US News) / January 27 2021
The D.C. police chief in congressional testimony documented the devastating effects, both visible and unseen, on his officers who protected the Capitol against a pro-Trump mob.
A D.C. POLICE OFFICER who attempted to prevent a violent mob of President Donald Trump’s supporters from storming the U.S. Capitol earlier this month has killed himself, Metropolitan Police Chief Robert Contee confirmed Wednesday, marking the second officer who contributed to the response to die by suicide.
Five deaths occurred as a result of the siege on the Capitol building on Jan. 6 as members of Congress voted to confirm Joe Biden’s presidential election victory. U.S. Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick collapsed and later died from his injuries after being physically assaulted by Trump’s supporters as they stormed the building. U.S. Capitol Police Officer Howard Liebengood committed suicide shortly afterward.
A second officer, Jeffrey Smith, was another of those who “took their own lives in the aftermath of that battle,” Contee revealed Wednesday before a congressional panel tasked with investigating the failures that led to the deadly event.
