Capitol officer Brian Sicknick died of natural causes day after January riots, medical examiner says

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Above video from February: Capitol Hill ceremony held for Officer SicknickCapitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, who was injured whereas confronting rioters in the course of the Jan. 6 rebel, suffered a stroke and died from pure causes, the Washington, D.C., medical expert’s workplace dominated Monday, a discovering that lessens the probabilities that anybody will probably be charged in his demise.Investigators initially believed the officer was hit within the head with a fireplace extinguisher, based mostly on statements collected early within the investigation, based on two individuals conversant in the case. They usually later thought the 42-year-old Sicknick could have ingested a chemical substance — probably bear spray — which will have contributed to his demise.However the willpower of a pure explanation for demise means the medical expert discovered {that a} medical situation alone precipitated his demise — it was not introduced on by an damage. The willpower is more likely to considerably inhibit the flexibility of federal prosecutors to convey murder prices in Sicknick’s demise.Federal prosecutors have charged two males with utilizing bear spray on Sicknick in the course of the Jan. 6 riot. The arrests of George Tanios, 39, of Morgantown, West Virginia, and Julian Khater, 32, of Pennsylvania, had been the closest federal prosecutors have come to figuring out and charging anybody related to the 5 deaths that occurred throughout and after the riot.Legal professionals for the 2 males had no rapid remark Monday.Sicknick died after defending the Capitol in opposition to the mob that stormed the constructing as Congress was voting to certify Joe Biden’s electoral win over Donald Trump. It got here after Trump urged his supporters to “combat like hell” to overturn his defeat.Sicknick was standing guard with different officers behind steel bicycle racks because the mob descended on the Capitol.”Give me that bear (expletive),” Khater mentioned earlier than he reached into Tanios’ backpack, based on court docket papers. Tanios advised Khater “not but” as a result of it was “nonetheless early,” however Khater responded that “they simply f—ing sprayed me.” Khater was then seen holding a can of chemical spray, prosecutors say.Because the rioters started pulling on one of many racks, Khater was seen together with his arm within the air and the canister in his hand whereas standing simply 5 to eight toes from the officers, authorities mentioned.In February, Sicknick turned solely the fifth individual in historical past to lie in honor within the Capitol Rotunda, a designation for many who should not elected officers, judges or army leaders. He was interred at Arlington Nationwide Cemetery.

Above video from February: Capitol Hill ceremony held for Officer Sicknick

Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, who was injured whereas confronting rioters in the course of the Jan. 6 rebel, suffered a stroke and died from pure causes, the Washington, D.C., medical expert’s workplace dominated Monday, a discovering that lessens the probabilities that anybody will probably be charged in his demise.

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Investigators initially believed the officer was hit within the head with a fireplace extinguisher, based mostly on statements collected early within the investigation, based on two individuals conversant in the case. They usually later thought the 42-year-old Sicknick could have ingested a chemical substance — probably bear spray — which will have contributed to his demise.

However the willpower of a pure explanation for demise means the medical expert discovered {that a} medical situation alone precipitated his demise — it was not introduced on by an damage. The willpower is more likely to considerably inhibit the flexibility of federal prosecutors to convey murder prices in Sicknick’s demise.

Federal prosecutors have charged two males with utilizing bear spray on Sicknick in the course of the Jan. 6 riot. The arrests of George Tanios, 39, of Morgantown, West Virginia, and Julian Khater, 32, of Pennsylvania, had been the closest federal prosecutors have come to figuring out and charging anybody related to the 5 deaths that occurred throughout and after the riot.

Legal professionals for the 2 males had no rapid remark Monday.

Sicknick died after defending the Capitol in opposition to the mob that stormed the constructing as Congress was voting to certify Joe Biden’s electoral win over Donald Trump. It got here after Trump urged his supporters to “combat like hell” to overturn his defeat.

Sicknick was standing guard with different officers behind steel bicycle racks because the mob descended on the Capitol.

This undated image provided by the United States Capitol Police shows U.S. Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, who died Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021, of injuries sustained during the riot at the Capitol. A native of South River, N.J., Sicknick served in the New Jersey Air National Guard and went on to a law enforcement career, which his family said was his lifelong dream. He joined the Capitol Police in 2008.

United States Capitol Police through AP

This undated picture supplied by america Capitol Police reveals U.S. Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, who died Thursday, Jan. 7, 2023.

“Give me that bear (expletive),” Khater mentioned earlier than he reached into Tanios’ backpack, based on court docket papers. Tanios advised Khater “not but” as a result of it was “nonetheless early,” however Khater responded that “they simply f—ing sprayed me.” Khater was then seen holding a can of chemical spray, prosecutors say.

Because the rioters started pulling on one of many racks, Khater was seen together with his arm within the air and the canister in his hand whereas standing simply 5 to eight toes from the officers, authorities mentioned.

In February, Sicknick turned solely the fifth individual in historical past to lie in honor within the Capitol Rotunda, a designation for many who should not elected officers, judges or army leaders. He was interred at Arlington Nationwide Cemetery.

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