Howard Liebengood, the second US Capitol Police officer to die in the wake of the 6 January riots, took his life, The Washington Post reported on Monday, citing law enforcement sources.
According to the newspaper, officer Liebengood, 51, responded to the siege of the Capitol building by pro-Trump protesters. The Capitol Police Union later described the officer as "an example of selfless service", "the hallmark of the USCP".
Liebengood served with the US Capitol Police for 15 years. He was the second officer to die following the clashes after officer Brian Sicknick on Thursday succumbed to injuries suffered during Wednesday's riots.
Thousands of Trump supporters besieged the Capitol on Wednesday in a bid to prevent Congress from certifying Joe Biden's election victory. The protesters attacked police with metal pipes and chemical irritants, damaged property, seized the inauguration stage, and occupied the rotunda inside the Capitol building.
President Trump later called on the protesters to remain peaceful and go home, but the violence continued, claiming at least 5 lives. Trump's accounts on major social media platforms were subsequently blocked, while Democratic lawmakers have begun a motion to remove him from office.
