Another US police officer commits suicide after Capitol chaos
A second police officer who responded to the violent march on the US Capitol on January 6 by former President Donald Trump’s supporters has committed suicide, the acting Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) chief has said.
The officer was identified as Jeffrey Smith, who was reportedly injured while trying to help contain the protesters attempting to stop Congress from certifying Joe Biden's victory in the 2020 presidential election which Trump’s loyalists believe was rigged in favor of the Democrat.
"That was a very sad and tragic situation for us," Acting MPD Chief Robert Contee said during a press conference on Wednesday. "He had been injured as a result of the confrontation that had occurred at the Capitol and a couple of days after that, the officer, he took his life."
Smith shot himself while on his way to work on the George Washington Parkway, Contee said.
"Obviously again, our condolences go to the Smith family, his entire family, for such a tragic loss," he added.
So far at least two police officers have committed suicide and one succumbed to their injuries in the aftermath of the violent demonstration on the Capitol in which several people lost their lives.
Capitol Police officer Howard Liebengood took his life after being on duty at the Capitol on January 6.
Another Capitol Police officer, Brian Sicknick, was hit in the head with a fire extinguisher during the violence. He died at a hospital one day after the incident.
The US Department of Homeland Security has warned that the country faces a growing threat of politically-motivated domestic violence from people angry at Trump’s election loss in the controversial election.
The department issued a national terrorism advisory on Wednesday but did not specify a group that might mastermind any future attack, but made it clear that their motivation would include anger over “the presidential transition, as well as other perceived grievances fueled by false narratives.”
The advisory made a clear reference to Trump’s allegations that his election loss came as a result of widespread voter fraud.
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