A second U.S. Capitol Police officer has died this week, authorities reported on Sunday.

In a statement issued Sunday morning, U.S. Capitol Police did not link Howard Liebengood’s death while off duty to Wednesday’s deadly insurrection on Capitol Hill.

“The United States Capitol Police is deeply saddened by the off-duty death on January 9, 2021, of Officer Howard Liebengood,” the agency said. “He was assigned to the Senate Division, and has been with the Department since April 2005. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family, friends, and colleagues.”

USCP did not specify the cause of Liebengood’s death. He was 51.

Lawmakers immediately issued statements mourning his passing and called for additional support for the U.S. Capitol Police officers in the wake of Wednesday’s riot that left five people dead and dozens of officers wounded.

“Officer Liebengood was a patriot who dedicated his life to defending the Capitol and protecting all who serve, work in and visit this temple of our Democracy," said Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.). "His passing is a great tragedy that compounds the horror of this past week."

“Our officers need more than gratitude,” tweeted Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.). “They need authentic, capable leadership and meaningful support, and I call on my colleagues to join me demanding it immediately.”

Liebengood’s death comes days after USCP announced the death of Officer Brian Sicknick, who was killed after confronting the mob of rioters who raided the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday.

President Donald Trump announced Sunday afternoon that he had ordered flags to be flown at half-staff in memory of Sicknick and Liebengood and their "service and sacrifice." The Capitol had already been flying its flags at half-staff in Sicknick’s memory.

Related posts:

Several Hill office buildings evacuated amid ‘active bomb threat investigation’ Lindsey Graham, one-man PR shop for the Afghan resistance Comer requests all intelligence into Biden’s inconclusive Covid origins report Clyburn, Yarmuth say Congress might miss Sept. 27 infrastructure deadline Amid caustic rhetoric, House votes to combat Islamophobia ‘I don’t know what the facts are’: Durbin unsure about Manchin’s stance on child tax credit Roger Stone calls inquiry on January 6th ‘witch hunt 3.0’ ‘Stop the Steal’ founder told Jan. 6 committee about contacts with GOP lawmakers Black lawmakers threaten to cut off K St unless it diversifies ‘Let him vote no in front of the whole world’: Sanders wants to force Manchin to vote no on BBB McCarthy open to Electoral Count Act reform Arizona Democratic Party censures Sinema over voting rights stance