The US Justice Department on Monday said that two protesters at the January 6 Capitol attack have been charged with assault involving a chemical substance called bear spray on an officer before he died. The Donald Trump supporters, aged 32 and 39 have not been charged with homicide, reports AFP. 

Brian Sicknick, the assaulted officer died of injuries suffered during the riot but the cause of his death is yet to be confirmed.  

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According to an affidavit, a video recording of the day shows one of the protestors “holding a canister in his right hand and aiming it at the officers’ direction.”

The officer “reacted to being sprayed in the face. The officers retreated, bringing their hands to their faces and rushing to find water to wash out their eyes. Following this, officer Brian returned to his office, collapsed and was taken to the hospital. He passed away the next day,” read the report. 

As a tribute, Sicknick was given the rare status of lying in honour at the building housing the US Congress, where Biden paid his respects.

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A total of five lost their lives during the January 6 Capitol attack when pro-Trump supporters tried to stop President Joe Biden’s presidential win from getting certified. 

The Washington Post reported on Monday that Sicknick did not die of blunt force trauma. It was earlier reported that the late officer was struck on the head with a fire extinguisher.