Police Officer Who Responded to Capitol Riot law enforcement cite suicide
Howard Liebengood, 51, was at the scene of the U.S. Capitol siege last week.
U.S. Capitol Police on Sunday announced the death of off-duty officer Howard Liebengood, the son and namesake of a former Senate Sergeant-at-Arms, lobbyist and Hill staffer.
Liebengood, 51, who went by “Howie,” died on Saturday, the agency said. Its statement did not list a cause of death, but two law enforcement officials told The Washington Post that he had died by suicide, days after being on the scene of Wednesday’s violent siege of the Capitol building by a pro-Trump mob.
The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity to release details that were not being made public.
Liebengood had been with the department since April 2005 and was assigned to the Senate Division. A former co-worker said he often worked at the Delaware entrance of the Russell Senate Office Building — his favorite posting.
“We are reeling from the death of Officer Liebengood,” Gus Papathanasiou, head of the Capitol Police union, said in a statement.
“Officer Liebengood was an example of the selfless service that is the hallmark of USCP.”
The statement from the Capitol Police says: “Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family, friends, and colleagues.”
It was second death of a Capitol Police officer in the span of a week: On Wednesday, Officer Brian D. Sicknick died of injuries sustained while fighting off the “Stop the Steal” mob that had breached the Capitol while lawmakers were certifying the presidential vote.
Liebengood, 51, who went by “Howie,” died on Saturday, the agency said. Its statement did not list a cause of death, but two law enforcement officials told The Washington Post that he had died by suicide, days after being on the scene of Wednesday’s violent siege of the Capitol building by a pro-Trump mob.
The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity to release details that were not being made public.
Liebengood had been with the department since April 2005 and was assigned to the Senate Division. A former co-worker said he often worked at the Delaware entrance of the Russell Senate Office Building — his favorite posting.
“We are reeling from the death of Officer Liebengood,” Gus Papathanasiou, head of the Capitol Police union, said in a statement.
“Officer Liebengood was an example of the selfless service that is the hallmark of USCP.”
The statement from the Capitol Police says: “Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family, friends, and colleagues.”
It was second death of a Capitol Police officer in the span of a week: On Wednesday, Officer Brian D. Sicknick died of injuries sustained while fighting off the “Stop the Steal” mob that had breached the Capitol while lawmakers were certifying the presidential vote.