An American police officer, who died the day after the assault on Capitol Hill by pro-Trump protesters in January, suffered two strokes, according to the autopsy report published on Monday, April 19. The medical examiner concluded that the death was due to “Natural”.
Brian Sicknick’s fate had moved many Americans, shocked by the attack on the seat of Congress. His body had been exhibited on Capitol Hill, an exceptional honor, and Joe Biden had paid tribute to him on the spot. Anonymous sources, cited by the New York Times, had initially assured that he had received blows of extinguisher, a version of the facts then discarded. His death remained a mystery, more than three months after the events.
Brian Sicknick has suffered two strokes, federal capital Washington medical examiner Francisco J. Diaz finally concluded. In his report, the medical examiner traces the hours before the death of this 42-year-old man:
- At approximately 2:20 p.m. on January 6, Brian Sicknick was sprayed with a chemical substance outside in front of the Capitol.
- Then around 10 p.m., the officer collapsed in the Capitol compound before being taken by ambulance to a Washington hospital.
- He died at “About 9:30 p.m.” the next day, January 7, at the hospital.
- The medical examiner concludes: “Circumstances of death: natural”.
Two men charged with spraying him with spray
On March 15, US authorities indicted two people on charges of spraying him with “Bear spray”, a powerful aerosol used in the wilderness of the United States to repel these large mammals. The two men, aged 32 and 39, face nine charges, including “Assault on an officer with a dangerous weapon” but are not prosecuted for homicide.
Four other people died in the coup: a protester shot dead by a police officer, and three others for separate medical reasons. The US Department of Justice announced on April 14 that it would not initiate a prosecution against the police officer who shot Ashli Babbitt, who died at 35, believing that there was no “Enough elements to justify criminal proceedings”.
Accused of“Incitement to insurgency” by the House of Representatives, former President Donald Trump was acquitted by the Senate after a vigorous trial in February.
