• One of the Capitol officers who died was Memphis alum.

Liebengood attended UM before working at Capitol

Links between the Memphis area and Wednesday’s violent insurrection attempt at the Capitol in Washington D.C. continue to come to light.

Officer Howard Liebengood, the second U.S. Capitol Police officer to die following Wednesday’s attack on the building, attended the University of Memphis for graduate-level studies, university spokesperson Chuck Gallina confirmed Monday morning.

The university said Liebengood, 51, was a student under Richard “Dick” Irwin, who currently serves as the executive dean for U of M global and academic innovation department. He earned his degree in sports commerce, Gallina said.

It’s not immediately clear when Liebengood studied at the university.

Liebengood died while he was offduty, the U.S. Capitol Police union confirmed. He was present during the mob’s assault on the Capitol. A cause of death was not disclosed by the union.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family, friends, and colleagues,” the Capitol Police said in a statement. “We ask that his family and other USCP officers’ and their families’ privacy be respected during this profoundly difficult time.”

Multiple media outlets, including The Washington Post, cited an attorney for the Liebengood family, who said the veteran Capitol police officer took his own life Sunday.

Liebengood was assigned to the Senate Division and had been with the Capitol Police since April 2005.

Liebengood’s death follows that of another Capitol officer, Brian Sicknick, who was fatally injured during the attack when an unknown insurrectionist hit the officer with a fire extinguisher.

Dozens of other Capitol police officers were injured during the siege, which was briefly successful in stopping the counting of Electoral College votes and certifying President Donald Trump’s defeat.

Liebengood was a second-generation Capitol police officer. His father, Howard S. Liebengood, served as Senate Sergeant-at-arms from 1981 to 1983.

Gus Papathanasiou, chairman of the Capitol Police Officers’ Union, said in a statement that his death has left the force “reeling.”

“Every Capitol Police Officer puts the security of others before their own safety and Officer Liebengood was an example of the selfless service that is the hallmark of the USCP,” Papathanasiou said. “This is a tragic day.”

Dozens of Senate staffers, current and former senators including Mitt Romney and John Kerry have taken to social media to express heartbreak over Liebengood’s death.

Congressman Steve Cohen wrote on Twitter, “I’m sad to learn of Officer Howard Liebengood’s death after he heroically defended the Capitol against insurrection. He was a second-generation protector of the Capitol and received a master’s from U of Memphis. I extend my condolences to his family, friends and colleagues.”

Following the attack on the Capitol, an Arkansas resident, Richard Barnett, was arrested and charged with knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority; violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds; and theft of public money, property, or records, federal officials announced Friday.

Barnett claimed to be a former Memphis firefighter.