DC riots updates: Capitol Police officer dies from injuries; FBI offers $50K reward for pipe bomb suspect info
WASHINGTON — A U.S. Capitol Police officer died Thursday after being injured when supporters of President Donald Trump raided the Capitol building on Wednesday, bringing the total number of fatalities to five.
Brian D. Sicknick "was injured while physically engaging with protesters" on Wednesday, USCP said in a statement. He returned to his division office and collapsed, then was taken to a local hospital where he died Thursday evening.
"The death of Officer Sicknick will be investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch, the USCP, and our federal partners," the USCP said in a statement.
Sicknick had been with the USCP since July 2008, and most recently served in the department’s First Responders Unit, officials said in a statement.
Reps. Rosa DeLauro and Tim Ryan released a statement late Thursday calling for the "mob who attacked the People’s House" to be held accountable.
“Our hearts break over the senseless death of United States Capitol Police Officer Brian D. Sicknick, who was injured in the line of duty during yesterday’s violent assault on the Capitol," they said in a statement. "Our prayers are with his family, friends, and colleagues on the force.
'Double standard': Black lawmakers, activists decry police response to attack
They added: “This tragic loss should remind all of us of the bravery of the law enforcement officers who protected us, our colleagues, congressional staff, the press corps, and other essential workers yesterday."
Before sunrise Thursday, the lawn in front of the Capitol was nearly deserted and silent, a stark contrast from the cheering and chanting of Wednesday's massive crowd that eventually devolved into chaos.
Thursday showed little evidence of the pro-Trump mob that breached the U.S. Capitol, forcing the certification of President-elect Joe Biden's victory to be postponed in an attack that left four demonstrators dead.
The Washington Post reported several dozen people arrested Wednesday made first appearances in court Thursday.
Also Thursday, U.S. Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund, whose department was severely criticized for its flawed response to Wednesday's attack, resigned abruptly.
The Associated Press reported the Capitol Police turned down offers of help to deal with pro-Trump protesters from not one but two law enforcement agencies, opting to treat Wednesday's rally as if it were a free speech demonstration.
What happened? How a Trump mob stormed the Capitol forcing DC into lockdown
The lack of preparation and support allowed rioters to breach the Capitol building with little resistance, endangering legislators and resulting in a mob scene that sent shudders throughout the world.
Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser was among several critics who called the police's actions “a failure.” Many others pointed out the police response to the rioters was much less robust than the massive show of force in place for Black Lives Matter protests last year over law enforcement killings of unarmed Black men and women.
Republic of Palau, FSM condemn riot
The Republic of Palau and the Federated States of Micronesia are condemning the riots that took place at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday.
Thousands of rioters gathered at the National Mall. At a campaign-style rally about an hour before the mob broke through police lines at the Capitol, Trump had urged them to go to the building. A Palau flag can be seen in a video being shared on social media from the riot at the Capitol building.
"Peaceful demonstrations are part of democracy, and every person has the right to speak up and participate in that process. This includes thousands of Palauans and Americans of Palauan heritage who call America home," Hersey Kyota, ambassador of Palau to the U.S., said. "However, the flag of the Republic of Palau has no place in the disorder and unlawful act that took place at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C."
FSM President David Panuelo in a letter said the people of the FSM woke up to watch in horror as President Donald Trump openly solicited acts of domestic terrorism against the people and government of the U.S.
— Jerick Sablan, Pacific Daily News
FBI offers $50K reward for information on pipe bomb suspect
The FBI released a photo of a suspect and offered a $50,000 reward for information leading to the location, arrest and conviction of the person or people responsible for pipe bombs found at the RNC and DNC headquarters on Wednesday.
The person in the photo released by the FBI's Washington field office is masked, wearing a hoodie and gloves.
The FBI previously said it was "seeking information that will assist in identifying individuals who are actively instigating violence in Washington, D.C." The agency said it was looking for tips and recordings depicting the rioting and violence.
"If you have witnessed unlawful violent actions, we urge you to submit any information, photos, or videos that could be relevant at fbi.gov/USCapitol," the agency said.
Casualties, injuries and arrests
D.C. Police Chief Robert Contee said that, in addition to the woman shot by Capitol police, two men and one woman died in “separate medical emergencies.” At least 14 of Contee's officers were injured during the demonstrations, he said. Two pipe bombs were recovered, one at the Democratic National Committee and the other one at the Republican National Committee.
Police identified the woman shot and killed during the riot as Ashli Babbitt, 35, of San Diego, who was a military veteran. The other three who perished were Benjamin Phillips, 50, from Ringtown, Pennsylvania; Kevin Greeson, 55, from Athens, Alabama; and Rosanne Boyland, 34, from Kennesaw, Georgia. Contee said Thursday all three died on Capitol grounds, but he didn't specify how.
Graphic videos of the shooting show Babbitt wore a Trump flag as a cape as she tried to crawl through a broken window, flanked by other protesters. A single shot rang out, and she fell to the floor bleeding from an apparent neck wound.
Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund, who resigned later in the day, said protesters had been "forcing their way toward the House Chamber where members of Congress were sheltering in place" when the shooting took place. Babbitt later died at a hospital, Sund said. The officer has been placed on administrative leave.
Police made at least 68 arrests, 41 of of them on Capitol grounds, Contee said. Only one of those detained was from D.C., he said.
The effort to identify more culprits was underway. Contee was making photos available on the police website and other police organizations.
Fleeing home won't save the violators. The U.S. Attorney for Rhode Island vowed to prosecute anyone who traveled from Rhode Island to commit crimes in Washington. The office of U.S. Attorney Aaron Weisman tweeted that "anyone who did so can expect to be prosecuted in Rhode Island to the fullest extent of federal law."
West Virginia lawmaker filmed himself storming Capitol
A first-term West Virginia legislator is being urged to resign after video he took himself shows him joining other Trump supporters in storming the Capitol on Wednesday.
Republican Del. Derrick Evans is seen on the video, since deleted from his social media account, wearing a helmet and clamoring at the door that was breached after Congress met to try to vote to affirm Joe Biden's election victory. Evans then made it inside and milled around the Capitol Rotunda.
About 10,000 people signed an online petition calling for him to be removed from office.
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Contributing: Christal Hayes, Ryan W. Miller, Dennis Wagner, Melissa Daniels, Grace Hauck, Kevin Johnson, Jorge L. Ortiz, Trevor Hughes, Grace Hauck, Will Carless, USA TODAY; The Associated Press
