Capitol Riot

Two Arrested in Assault on Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, Who Died After US Capitol Riot

Men have not been charged in actual death of Officer Sicknick

NBC Universal, Inc. News4’s Shawn Yancy reports on the tribute to Officer Brian Sicknick, who died defending the Capitol during the Jan. 6 riot.

Two men have been arrested and charged with assaulting U.S. Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, who collapsed after responding to the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol and died the next day.

Julian Elie Khater, 32, of State College, Pennsylvania, and George Pierre Tanios, 39, of Morgantown, West Virginia, were arrested Sunday. They are charged with conspiring to injure officers and assaulting federal officers, among other charges, according to the Department of Justice.

The men are accused of assaulting Sicknick and two other law enforcement officers with some type of bear spray. They have not been charged in Sicknick's actual death.

Video allegedly shows Khater asking Tanios to “give me that bear s---,” to which Tanios replied, “Hold on, hold on, not yet, not yet … it’s still early,” according to DOJ.

News4's Shawn Yancy reports on the tribute to Officer Brian Sicknick, who died defending the Capitol during the Jan. 6 riot.

Khater then took a canister from Tanios’ backpack, walked to the police perimeter and appeared in the video to be holding a canister up in the direction of the officers and moving it side to side, according to DOJ.

Sicknick, Capitol Police Officer C. Edwards and D.C. Police Officer D. Chapman put their hands to their faces and went to find water to wash out their eyes, court documents say.

Investigators believe Sicknick may have ingested a chemical substance that may have contributed to his death, two people familiar with the case previously told The Associated Press, but the actual cause of death has not been determined by the FBI.

Andrew Harnik/AP
Capitol police stand with guns drawn near a barricaded door as protesters try to break into the House Chamber at the Capitol, Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington, DC.
(Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)
Supporters of US President Donald Trump enter the US Capitol’s Rotunda on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington, DC.
(Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)
Supporters of US President Donald Trump enter the US Capitol’s Rotunda on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington, DC.
(Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)
Supporters of US President Donald Trump enter the US Capitol’s Rotunda on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington, DC.
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U.S. Capitol police officers take positions as demonstrators enter the U.S. Capitol during a protest in Washington, DC, on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021.
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A protester is seen hanging from the balcony in the Senate Chamber on Jan. 6, 2021 in Washington, DC.
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Supporters of US President Donald Trump enter the US Capitol’s Rotunda as reported tear gas smoke fills a corridor on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington, DC.
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US Capitol police officers try to stop supporters of US President Donald Trump to enter the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington, DC.
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Supporters of US President Donald Trump enter the US Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington, DC.
(Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)
Supporters of US President Donald Trump roam under the Capitol Rotunda after invading the Capitol building on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington, DC.
(Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)
US Capitol police officers try to stop supporters of US President Donald Trump to enter the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington, DC.
(Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)
Supporters of US President Donald Trump enter the US Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington, DC.
(Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)
Supporters of US President Donald Trump confront Capitol police officers enter the US Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington, DC.
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Supporters of US President Donald Trump roam under the Capitol Rotunda after invading the Capitol building on January 6, 2021, in Washington, DC. – Demonstrators breeched security and entered the Capitol as Congress debated the a 2020 presidential election Electoral Vote Certification. (Photo by Saul LOEB / AFP) (Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)
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Police hold back supporters of US President Donald Trump as they gather outside the US Capitol’s Rotunda on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington, DC.
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Protesters gather inside the U.S. Capitol Building on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington, DC.
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A protester is seen inside the US Capitol Building on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington, DC.
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A supporter of US President Donald Trump sits at a desk after invading the Capitol Building on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington, DC.
(Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)
Supporters of US President Donald Trump protest in the US Capitol’s Rotunda on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington, DC.
(Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)
Supporters of US President Donald Trump protest in the US Capitol’s Rotunda on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington, DC.
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Capitol police try to hold back protesters outside the east doors to the House side of the Capitol in Washington, DC, Jan. 6, 2021.
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House of Representatives members leave the floor of the House chamber as protesters try to break into the chamber at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington, DC.
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People shelter in the House gallery as protesters try to break into the House Chamber at the Capitol, Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington, DC.
WASHINGTON, DC – JANUARY 06: Protesters interact with Capitol Police inside the U.S. Capitol Building on January 06, 2021 in Washington, DC. Congress held a joint session today to ratify President-elect Joe Biden’s 306-232 Electoral College win over President Donald Trump. A group of Republican senators said they would reject the Electoral College votes of several states unless Congress appointed a commission to audit the election results. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
TOPSHOT – Damage is seen inside the US Capitol building early on January 7, 2021 in Washington, DC, after supporters of US President Donald Trump breeched security and entered the building during a session of Congress. – Donald Trump’s supporters stormed a session of Congress held today, January 6, to certify Joe Biden’s election win, triggering unprecedented chaos and violence at the heart of American democracy and accusations the president was attempting a coup. (Photo by Olivier DOULIERY / AFP) (Photo by OLIVIER DOULIERY/AFP via Getty Images)
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WASHINGTON, DC – JANUARY 06: Two members of a pro-Trump mob look out through a broken window from inside the Capitol Building after breaking into it on January 6, 2021 in Washington, DC. A pro-Trump mob stormed the Capitol, breaking windows and clashing with police officers. Trump supporters gathered in the nation’s capital today to protest the ratification of President-elect Joe Biden’s Electoral College victory over President Trump in the 2020 election. (Photo by Jon Cherry/Getty Images)
(Photo by Jon Cherry/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – JANUARY 06: A member of a pro-Trump mob screams out at the crowd from the inside of the Capitol Building after breaking into it on January 6, 2021 in Washington, DC. A pro-Trump mob stormed the Capitol, breaking windows and clashing with police officers. Trump supporters gathered in the nation’s capital today to protest the ratification of President-elect Joe Biden’s Electoral College victory over President Trump in the 2020 election. (Photo by Jon Cherry/Getty Images)
(Photo by Jon Cherry/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – JANUARY 06: A member of a pro-Trump mob shatters a window with his fist from inside the Capitol Building after breaking into it on January 6, 2021 in Washington, DC. A pro-Trump mob stormed the Capitol, breaking windows and clashing with police officers. Trump supporters gathered in the nation’s capital today to protest the ratification of President-elect Joe Biden’s Electoral College victory over President Trump in the 2020 election. (Photo by Jon Cherry/Getty Images)
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Supporters of President Donald Trump are confronted by Capitol Police officers outside the Senate Chamber inside the Capitol, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021 in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
(Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)
Supporters of US President Donald Trump sit inside the office of US Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi as he protest inside the US Capitol in Washington, DC, January 6, 2021. – Demonstrators breeched security and entered the Capitol as Congress debated the a 2020 presidential election Electoral Vote Certification. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP)
(Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)
A supporter of US President Donald Trump sits inside the office of US Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi as he protest inside the US Capitol in Washington, DC, January 6, 2021. – Demonstrators breeched security and entered the Capitol as Congress debated the a 2020 presidential election Electoral Vote Certification. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP)
(Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)
A supporter of US President Donald Trump sits inside the office of Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi as he protest inside the US Capitol in Washington, DC, January 6, 2021. – Demonstrators breeched security and entered the Capitol as Congress debated the a 2020 presidential election Electoral Vote Certification. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP)
(Photo by ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP via Getty Images)
Trump supporters clash with police and security forces as they gather inside the US Capitol in Washington, DC on January 6, 2021. – Demonstrators breeched security and entered the Capitol as Congress debated the a 2020 presidential election Electoral Vote Certification. (Photo by ROBERTO SCHMIDT / AFP)
(Photo by ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP via Getty Images)
Trump supporters clash with police and security forces as they gather inside the US Capitol in Washington, DC on January 6, 2021. – Demonstrators breeched security and entered the Capitol as Congress debated the a 2020 presidential election Electoral Vote Certification. (Photo by ROBERTO SCHMIDT / AFP)
(Photo by ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP via Getty Images)
Trump supporters clash with police and security forces as they gather inside the US Capitol in Washington, DC on January 6, 2021. – Demonstrators breeched security and entered the Capitol as Congress debated the a 2020 presidential election Electoral Vote Certification. (Photo by ROBERTO SCHMIDT / AFP)
(Photo by ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP via Getty Images)
Supporters of US President Donald Trump protest inside the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, in Washington, DC. – Demonstrators breeched security and entered the Capitol as Congress debated the a 2020 presidential election Electoral Vote Certification. (Photo by ROBERTO SCHMIDT / AFP)
Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images
Supporters of US President Donald Trump protest inside the US Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington, DC. – Demonstrators breeched security and entered the Capitol as Congress debated the a 2020 presidential election Electoral Vote Certification. (Photo by ROBERTO SCHMIDT / AFP)
(Photo By Caroline Brehman/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
UNITED STATES – JANUARY 6: A U.S. Capitol Police officer maces a Trump rioter who broke through a window on the first floor of the Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021. (Photo By Caroline Brehman/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
(Photo by OLIVIER DOULIERY/AFP via Getty Images)
A Congress staffer holds his hands up while Capitol Police Swat team check everyone in the room as they secure the floor of Trump suporters in Washington, CD on January 6, 2021. – Donald Trump’s supporters stormed a session of Congress held today, January 6, to certify Joe Biden’s election win, triggering unprecedented chaos and violence at the heart of American democracy and accusations the president was attempting a coup. (Photo by Olivier DOULIERY / AFP)
(Photo By Caroline Brehman/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
UNITED STATES – JANUARY 6: A U.S. Capitol Police officer is treated for injuries on the first floor of the Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021. (Photo By Caroline Brehman/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
(Photo by OLIVIER DOULIERY/AFP via Getty Images)
A Capitol Police Swat team member patrols the US Capitol in Washington, CD on January 6, 2021. – Donald Trump’s supporters stormed a session of Congress held today, January 6, to certify Joe Biden’s election win, triggering unprecedented chaos and violence at the heart of American democracy and accusations the president was attempting a coup. (Photo by Olivier DOULIERY / AFP)
Photographer: Ting Shen/Bloomberg via Getty Images
A members of the U.S. Capitol Police responds to demonstrators at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., U.S. on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021. The U.S. Capitol was placed under lockdown and Vice President Mike Pence left the floor of Congress as hundreds of protesters swarmed past barricades surrounding the building where lawmakers were debating Joe Biden’s victory in the Electoral College. Photographer: Ting Shen/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Photographer: Ting Shen/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Members of the U.S. Capitol Police respond to the demonstrators at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., U.S. on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021. The U.S. Capitol was placed under lockdown and Vice President Mike Pence left the floor of Congress as hundreds of protesters swarmed past barricades surrounding the building where lawmakers were debating Joe Biden’s victory in the Electoral College. Photographer: Ting Shen/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Capitol Police have said officials consider it a line-of-duty death.

Sicknick died after defending the Capitol against the mob that stormed the building as Congress was voting to certify President Joe Biden’s electoral win over former President Donald Trump. It came after Trump urged supporters on the National Mall to “fight like hell” to overturn his defeat.

Capitol Police have said Sicknick was injured “while physically engaging with protesters.” He collapsed later on, was hospitalized and died.

Khater was arrested at Newark Airport in New Jersey and Tanios was arrested at his home in West Virginia.

Each man was temporarily detained. Khater appeared before a magistrate judge in New Jersey and chose to waive his right to a detention hearing in that district, pending transfer of his case to a D.C. judge. His next appearance will be in federal court in D.C., but no time was set. 

Tanios chose to have a detention hearing in his home district of West Virginia. It is set to occur Thursday morning. Federal prosecutors argued that he should remain held. 

“The attack on the U.S. Capitol and on our police officers, including Brian Sicknick, was an attack on our democracy,” U.S. Capitol Police Acting Chief Yogananda Pittman said in a press release Monday. “Those who perpetrated these heinous crimes must be held accountable, and — let me be clear — these unlawful actions are not and will not be tolerated by this department."  

NBCWashington.com/AP
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