Fact check: Deaths reported in the January 6th

1. Summary of the results

The deaths associated with January 6th can be categorized into several groups:

*Direct deaths during the riot (January 6th):

• Ashli Babbitt: died by homicide from a gunshot by a Capitol Police officer ^{[1] [2]}
• Kevin Greeson and Benjamin Phillips: died of natural causes (cardiovascular disease) ^[2]
• Rosanne Boyland: died from accidental amphetamine intoxication ^[2]

Law enforcement deaths in the aftermath*:

• Officer Brian Sicknick: died from natural causes (strokes) after the riot ^[3]
• Four police officers died by suicide in the days and months following the riot ^[1]

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original query about deaths needs significant context:

• The riot resulted in approximately $1.5 million in damage and involved significant violence, with dozens of police officers being severely injured, beaten, and tased ^[4]
• Over 1,000 people have been federally charged, and a bipartisan committee investigated the events ^[5]
• There are conflicting narratives about the nature of the event:
• 37% of Republicans believed the rioters were mostly people pretending to be Trump supporters ^[6]
• Some participants claim they were peaceful or were "let in" by police ^[6]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

Several potential sources of misinformation exist:

• Some politicians, like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, have claimed "almost 10 dead" ^[1], which could be misleading without proper context about the circumstances and timing of these deaths
• Initial reports about Officer Sicknick's death suggested it was due to injuries, but it was later determined to be from natural causes ^[3]
• The classification of deaths as "related to January 6th" is complex, particularly regarding:
• The suicides that occurred in the aftermath
• Deaths from natural causes during the event
• The distinction between direct casualties and indirect deaths

This complexity has allowed different political groups to present varying narratives about the death toll, either minimizing or maximizing the number based on their political stance.