Lawmakers Pay Tribute to Brian D. Sicknick, U.S. Capitol Police Officer Killed in Riot

Lawmakers have paid tribute to the Capitol Police officer Brian D. Sicknick after he died on Thursday night from injuries he sustained while responding to pro-Trump rioters at the Capitol building on Wednesday.

The United States Capitol Police force said the officer returned to his division and collapsed after sustaining injuries during a physical confrontation with protesters. He was then taken to a local hospital, where he later passed away.

Capitol Police said they would investigate Officer Sicknick's death, along with federal authorities and Washington, D.C.'s Metropolitan Police Department. The law enforcement official first joined the USCP in July, 2008, and recently served as a member of the 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," Capitol Police said in a statement. "We ask that Officer Sicknick's family, and other USCP officers' and their families' privacy be respected during this time."

Reacting to the officer's death, several lawmakers shared condolences with his family, and condemned the behavior of the rioters who stormed the Capitol building earlier this week.

"On behalf of the residents of the District of Columbia, our thoughts & prayers are with the family, friends and colleagues of United States Capitol Police Officer Brian D. Sicknick," the Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser tweeted. "May he Rest In Peace, and we work tirelessly to honor his service to the Congress and our nation."

Congressman Madison Cawthorn, a newly-elected North Carolina Republican, said he was "heartbroken" to hear about the Capitol Police officer's death following Wednesday's assault. "My prayers go out to the officer's family. Those responsible for the officer's death must be prosecuted," he added. "What occurred on Capitol Hill was a perversion of patriotism.

Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) took the issue further, calling for all protesters who committed a felony at the Capitol riots related to the officer's death to be charged with felony murder. "My prayers go out to the family and colleagues of the US Capitol Police officer who apparently passed away," he added.

"Saddened to hear reports that a Capitol Police Officer has died as a result of injuries sustained in the pro-Trump riot yesterday," Rep. Colin Allred (D-TX) tweeted. "I wouldn't be with my family this evening if it were not for the bravery of the USCP. The thugs who did this must be brought to justice, all of them."

His fellow Texas Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) also offered prayers for Sicknick's family, and called the Capitol officer a "true hero" as he hit out at the "terrorist attack" on Congress earlier in the week. Cruz's remarks drew a backlash from commentators who accused him of inspiring the protest by contesting the election results.

"On one of the darkest days in our country's history, Capitol Police Officer Brian D. Sicknick lost his life defending the sacred halls of our democracy," Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D-VA) tweeted. "I'm horrified by the violence we witnessed at the Capitol yesterday. My heart breaks for his family and loved ones."

Officer Sicknick's death is the fifth to be reported in the wake of the Capitol riots on Wednesday. Four others were reported to have died as a result of the chaos earlier this week, including Ashli Babbitt, 35, who died after being shot by police inside the Capitol.

More than 50 arrests were made in the immediate aftermath of the storming of the building, including arrests for violations of the citywide curfew instated to break up the rioting.