Two charged in assault of Capitol officer who died after riot

US officials have arrested and charged two men with assaulting US Capitol Police officer Brain Sicknick with bear spray during the January 6 riot, but they do not know yet whether it caused the officer’s death.

The accused George Tanios,39, of Morgantown, West Virginia, and Julian Khater, 32, of Pennsylvania was arrested on Sunday.

Investigators initially believed that Sicknick was hit in the head with a fire extinguisher, based on statements collected early in the investigation, according to two people familiar with the case. But as they’ve collected more evidence, the theory of the case has evolved and investigators now believe Sicknick may have ingested a chemical substance – possibly bear spray – that may have contributed to his death, officials have said.

Khater is the man in a video obtained by the FBI that showed him spraying Sicknick and others with bear spray, according to court papers. The act hasn’t been directly tied to Sicknick’s death.

The medical examiner’s report on Sicknick ‘s death is incomplete. Capitol Police say they were awaiting toxicology results.

The FBI has already released about 250 photos of people being sought for assaulting federal law enforcement officers during the riots.