Four policemen who defended the Capitol from the assault have committed suicide

By Tim Fitzsimons, Geoff Bennett and Phil Helsel - NBC News

Two more Washington DC police officers who defended the Capitol from the assault by supporters of former President Donald Trump on January 6 committed suicide, police said Monday.

Four officers have taken their own lives since the incident.

Officer Gunther Hashida was found dead in his home Thursday

, the Metropolitan Police Department reported Monday, and Officer Kyle DeFreytag was found dead on July 10.

["This is how I'm going to die": Police officers relive the violent assault on the Capitol and share their testimonies]

Hashida, a police officer since 2003, was assigned to the police Emergency Response Team.

"We are grieving because our thoughts and prayers are with Officer Hashida's family and friends," police said Monday morning.

DeFreytag, who was assigned to the Fifth District, had been with the police department since November 2016, a police spokesman noted Monday night.

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President Nancy Pelosi, Democrat of California, sent her condolences on behalf of the House of Representatives following the confirmation of Hashida's death.

"Officer Hashida was a hero, risking his life to save our Capitol, the Congressional community, and our own democracy," Pelosi said in a statement.

"All Americans are indebted to him for his great courage and patriotism on January 6 and throughout his selfless service."

[The investigation in Congress of the assault on the Capitol begins with the testimony of brutally assaulted policemen]

In a Facebook post on Monday, Romelia Hashida shared a photo of herself with her late husband.

"A thousand words could not bring you back ... I know because I tried, not a thousand tears ... I know because I cried, you left a broken heart and happy memories too ... but I never wanted memories ... I just loved you [ to you] ", said the caption.

More than 100 Washington DC and Capitol police officers were injured defending the Capitol

on January 6, and four have committed suicide since.

Washington Police Chief Robert J. Contee III told a House committee in January that Officer Jeffrey Smith, a 12-year veteran, had committed suicide in the days following the incident.

Gunther Hashida, one of the agents who defended the Capitol from the assault, and who committed suicide.

Another officer, Howard Liebengood, who joined the United States Capitol Police in 2005, committed suicide three days after the attack.

[The Capitol Police had information about the armed robbery weeks before the event, according to the Senate]

In an interview with The New York Times, Smith's widow said her husband was hit on the head during the riot and "was a completely different person" afterward.

Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, who suffered a stroke immediately after the riot, died of natural causes, according to a medical examiner.

A House Select Committee is investigating the attack in which Trump supporters stormed the building following a speech by the then Republican president and weeks of lies about alleged fraud in the presidential election in November last year.

Only two Republicans are on the House committee.

Senate Republicans blocked a bill to establish an independent commission to investigate the attack.

Four officers who were attacked by extremists testified before the committee last month.

["This is how I'm going to die": what this Latino sergeant thought when he faced robbers from the Capitol]

Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn said he was yelled at racial slurs, physically assaulted him and that he has required help for the emotional trauma he suffered that day.

Capitol Police Sgt. Aquilino Gonell called it an "attempted coup."

Officer Michael Fanone testified that he was assaulted from all directions, repeatedly beaten and electrocuted with a stun device.

He said people tried to grab his gun and some in the crowd yelled for him to be killed with his own gun.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Line at 800-273-8255, text HOME to 741741, or visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional information.