Capitol Police officer dies by suicide days after siege

WASHINGTON — U.S. Capitol Police on Sunday announced the death of off-duty officer Howard Liebengood, the son and namesake of a former Senate sergeantat-arms, lobbyist and Hill staffer.

Two law enforcement officials told The Washington Post that Liebengood, 51, died by suicide over the weekend, days after being at Wednesday’s violent siege of the Capitol building by a pro-Trump mob.

Statements released Sunday by the Capitol Police and its union did not specify a cause of death for Liebengood, who had been with the department since April 2005.

“We are reeling from the death of Officer Liebengood,” Gus Papathanasiou, head of the Capitol Police union, said in a statement, adding: “Officer Liebengood was an example of the selfless service that is the hallmark of USCP.”

On social media, there was an outpouring of grief for Liebengood. Rep. Jennifer Wexton, D-Va., posted on Twitter that she was “deeply saddened” over the death of her constituent.

Friends described Liebengood as humble and reserved, and said he shared a love of race car driving with his father, as well as a pull toward the halls of the Capitol. He spent several years as a professional race car driver until 2005, when he left the profession to become a Capitol Police officer.

Charlie Ostlund, 70, taught Liebengood at James Madison High School in Vienna, Va., in the 1980s and was his wrestling coach. He remembered Liebengood as a team player who often surprised opponents with his strength and physical talent.

Ostlund said the younger Liebengood looked up to his father, Howard S. Liebengood Sr., who served as the Senate sergeant-at-arms from 1981 to 1983. The sergeant-at-arms is the chief law enforcement officer of the Senate, charged with ensuring security in the Capitol and Senate buildings, as well as protecting members of the Senate.

In a 2003 interview with a motor sports website, the younger Liebengood said his parents were his biggest inspiration. My father “has accomplished so much in his professional career in government,” he said at the time.

Bill Beck, 80, was a close friend of Liebengood Sr. who watched his son grow up. At the Capitol, he said Sunday, both men strove to engage lawmakers and staffers regardless of political party.

On the day of the Capitol attack, Beck said he emailed the younger Liebengood to see how he was doing. He did not hear the news of his death until Sunday.

“I knew him his whole life. He was a good human being,” Beck said. “After everything, this is just . . . it’s tragic.”