SOUTH RIVER, N.J. (1010 WINS) – A Capitol Police officer who died from injuries he sustained during the Capitol riots was a New Jersey native, officials and his family confirmed Friday.
Brian Sicknick, 42, died Thursday night of injuries from Wednesday’s siege, which saw supporters of President Trump storming the Capitol building.
Capitol Police said Sicknick was injured “while physically engaging with protesters.” Sources told the Associated Press that the officer was hit in the head with a fire extinguisher during the melee.
“He returned to his division office and collapsed. He was taken to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries,” police said, adding that his death will be investigated by Metropolitan Police, Capitol Police and federal authorities.
A native of South River, Sicknick graduated from Sicknick Middlesex County Vocational and Technical Schools and served in the New Jersey Air National Guard before pursuing a career in law enforcement, which his family said was his lifelong dream. He joined the Capitol Police in 2008.
Sicknick was the fifth person to die because of the Capitol riots.
In a statement, Sicknick’s family said they did not want to make his death a “political issue” as many questions remain about what happened. The statement says, “Brian is a hero and that is what we would like people to remember.”
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Friday ordered the Capitol’s flags to be flown at half-staff in honor of Sicknick.
Gov. Phil Murphy said Friday that Sicknick “embodied the selfless spirit of his native state, giving his life to protect our democracy from violent insurrection.”
“It is my fervent hope that the rioters whose actions directly contributed to his death are quickly brought to justice,” the governor tweeted.
Here is Gov. Murphy’s full statement:
“United States Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick embodied the selfless spirit of his native state.
Officer Sicknick was a product of South River and a graduate of the Middlesex County Vocational and Technical Schools. Before joining the Capitol Police, he was Staff Sergeant Sicknick with the New Jersey Air National Guard. He was a Fire Team Member and Leader with the 108th Security Force Squadron, 108th Wing, at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, and his six years of service included overseas deployments in support of Operation Southern Watch and Operation Enduring Freedom.
Tammy and I send our deepest condolences to Officer Sicknick’s family and friends, as well as to his United States Capitol Police colleagues and the Guardsmen and Guardswomen he served alongside. We thank him for his service to our nation.
Officer Sicknick gave his life protecting the United States Capitol, and by extension, our very democracy, from violent insurrection. His needless murder at the hands of a mob bent on overthrowing the Constitution he had dedicated his life to upholding is shocking. It is my fervent hope that the rioters whose actions directly contributed to his death are quickly identified and brought to justice.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.