According to the Metropolitan Police Department, another police officer who responded on January 6 to the U.S. Capitol Riots has committed suicide.On Thursday, Officer Gunther Hashida, an 18 year veteran of the Washington, D.C. police force, was found dead at his home. According to the Washington Examiner, suicide was the cause of death.Hashida joined the department in May 2003 and was assigned to the Special Operations Division's emergency response team. They responded to the riot.KINZINGER EXPECTS A 'SIGNIFICANT NUMBER' OF SUBPOENAS ISSUED IN JAN.6 INVESTIGATIONThe department released a statement saying that it was grieving and sending its thoughts and prayers to Officer Hashida's family and friends.Hashida's death is the third of the law enforcement officers who responded at the Capitol on Jan. 6th. One of them also worked for D.C. Police.Jeffrey Smith, a 12 year veteran of MPD, also took his life after the riot. Howard Liebengood was a 15-year veteran of Capitol Police.Brian Sicknick, Capitol Police Officer, also died in the riot response but not by suicide.Sicknick was subject to a chemical spray on Jan. 6, while he was at the riot scene. Sicknick collapsed at Capitol on that night, and he died in hospital on January 7. According to the D.C. Medical Examiner's office, April, Sicknick's death was due to two strokes.Smith's widow attributed his death to the violence he witnessed at the riot.My husband was gone that day. Erin Smith recently revealed to the New York Times that her husband's suicide had been deemed line-of-duty death. After being hit in his head during the event, he returned to work a different person. He would have been here if he hadn't gone to work that day. We wouldn't be having this conversation.Washington police didn't immediately release any details regarding Hashida’s work status after the riot, or other circumstances surrounding his death.Continue the storyHashida died just days after the U.S. House’s select committee investigating Jan. 6 riot held their first hearing. This included testimony from officers who recalled the "hell" they experienced while responding to Capitol.Nancy Pelosi, House Speaker, shared her condolences Monday with Hashida's family members and MPD.Pelosi released a statement saying that Officer Hashida was a hero who risked everything to save the Capitol, the Congressional Community, and our Democracy. He was a hero, who sacrificed his life to save the Capitol and all Americans are grateful for his valor and patriotism during January 6th.As of Monday afternoon, a GoFundMe account that Hashida created on Sunday had raised over $16,500.CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION FROM THE WASHINGTON XAMINERThe fundraiser stated that "in his work with the DC Metropolitan Police Department he worked to protect and serve the public." He was a loving and dedicated husband and father.According to the GoFundMe page, Hashida has left behind a sister and a husband, as well as three children.Washington Examiner VideosTags: News, Police, Washington D.C., January 6 Capitol Hill, Law EnforcementOriginal Author: Jeremy BeamanOriginal Location: After responding to the Capitol riot, a third officer takes his own life.
