Police officer killed in Trump-inspired riot will lie in honour at Capitol

Officer Brian Sicknick died from injuries protecting halls of Congress on 6 January

(Getty Images)

The US Capitol Police officer killed during an insurrection at the US Capitol on 6 January will lie in honour inside the building’s rotunda.

Officer Brian Sicknick joined the Capitol Police in 2008 after his six-year service in the New Jersey Air National Guard. He died on 7 January.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer have confirmed his ceremony and interment at Arlington National Cemetery.

“The US Congress is united in grief, gratitude and solemn appreciation for the service and sacrifice of Officer Brian Sicknick,” the Democratic leaders said in a shared statement on Friday.  “The heroism of Officer Sicknick and the Capitol Police force during the violent insurrection against our Capitol helped save lives, defend the temple of our democracy and ensure that the Congress was not diverted from our duty to the Constitution.  His sacrifice reminds us every day of our obligation to our country and to the people we serve.”

A ceremonial arrival is scheduled for 2 February at 9.30pm in front of the Capitol building. A viewing period will follow at 10pm for Capitol Police officers.

A viewing for members of Congress begins on Wednesday morning, followed by a congressional tribute and departure before Officer Sicknick’s interment at Arlington National Cemetery.

Officer Sicknick died after he was struck in the head with a fire extinguisher by a mob supporting former president Donald Trump’s false claims of election fraud.

Nearly 140 officers from Capitol Police and Washington DC’s Metropolitan Police Department were injured, according to Capitol Police union Chairman Gus Papathanasiou.

At least eight people who were at the Capitol on 6 January have died, including Officer Sicknick, two officers who died by suicide in the wake of the riot, a woman fatally shot by an officer, three rioters who died from medical emergencies, and a man who died by suicide following his arrest for his role in the riots.

“Lying in state” inside the Capitol Rotunda is typically reserved for government officials. 

In 1998, Congress granted the use of the Rotunda for two Capitol Police officers who were fatally shot to “lie in honour”.

The last person to lie in state in the Rotunda was Georgia Congressman and civil rights advocate John Lewis, who died in 2020.