Second Officer Commits Suicide After Responding to Capitol Siege

A D.C. POLICE OFFICER who attempted to prevent a violent mob of President Donald Trump‘s supporters from storming the U.S. Capitol earlier this month has killed himself, Metropolitan Police Chief Robert Contee confirmed Wednesday, marking the second officer who contributed to the response to die by suicide.

A second officer, Jeffrey Smith, was another of those who “took their own lives in the aftermath of that battle,” Contee revealed Wednesday before a congressional panel tasked with investigating the failures that led to the deadly event.

“We honor the service and sacrifices” of those officers, Contee said, “and offer condolences to all the grieving families.”

At least 65 other police officers sustained injuries including less severe cases involving scratches, bruises and from being sprayed with bear mace, Contee said Wednesday. Among those he documented was the mob’s assault on MPD Officer Michael Fanone, whose gun the assailants tried to steal and use against him. Fanone later described the melee to reporters and recounted how some of the protesters ultimately gave way to his pleas to spare his life after he screamed to them that he has children.