A Capitol police officer has died after responding to Wednesday’s assault on the building, Capitol police confirmed to CBS News on Sunday. Capitol police said Officer Howard Liebengood died on duty.
Capitol police said in a statement that Liebengood, 51, was serving on the Senate side. He has been with the Capitol Police since April 2005. The chairman of the police union calls it a ‘tragic day’.
“We are silent about the death of Officer Liebengood. Every Capitol police officer represents the safety of others for their own safety, and Officer Liebengood was an example of the selfless service that is the hallmark of USCP,” the Capitol chairman said. police union Gus Papathanasiou said in a statement.
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Liebengood’s father, Howard Liebengood Sr., served as a Senate arms sergeant from 1981 to 1983.
Other tributes poured in on Sunday, including from the speaker of the house Nancy Pelosi, Senator Tim Kaine and former Foreign Minister John Kerry.
The White House issued a proclamation on Sunday to lower the flag to half mast to both Liebengood and Brian Sicknick, Capitol Police Officer, who died Thursday due to injuries sustained in the Capitol.
A crowd of Trump supporters crossed the Capitol on Wednesday and finally reached the floor of the House and Senate. One of the rioters was shot dead by Capitol police, and three other rioters were killed as a result of medical emergencies, police said.
