AFTERMATH

Fourth Officer Who Responded to Capitol Riot Dies by Suicide, Hours After Third’s Death Is Announced

The announcement of Kyle DeFreytag’s death came hours after a fellow officer, Gunther Hashida, was confirmed dead from suicide by an MPD spokeswoman.

Officer Kyle DeFreytag has been named as the fourth officer who responded to the attack on the U.S. Capitol to die by suicide. “This is incredibly hard news for us all,” wrote Chief Robert J. Contee III in an email sent to the Metropolitan Police, informing them of DeFreytag’s passing. DeFreytag, 26, who was found dead July 10, was at the Capitol enforcing curfew violations as the pro-Trump mob stormed the building. Another D.C. officer, Gunther Hashida, was also confirmed dead just hours before DeFreytag on Monday by a spokeswoman for MPD. Back in January, Howard “Howie” Liebengood, a 15-year Capitol Police veteran, took his own life three days after the insurrection. MPD Officer Jeffrey Smith would die by suicide weeks later, a death also announced by Chief Contee. About 140 officers were injured while trying to control the mob inside the Capitol who tried to harm members of Congress. Around 65 of them were MPD officers.

If you or a loved one are struggling with suicidal thoughts, please reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741.