Managing Editor

Today’s daily news roundup will focus on the death of a N.J.-native U.S. Capitol police officer and the new spike in COVID-19 cases following the two vaccination mega-sites opened.

Let’s jump right in.

New Jersey native Brian D. Sicknick, 42, was killed on Wednesday when an angry mob of Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol. Sicknick had been injured when physically engaging with protesters during the riot, according to NJ.com.

He was pronounced dead at 9:30 p.m. Wednesday and his death has been ruled a homicide. He was hit with a fire extinguisher while trying to protect the U.S. Capitol, NJ.com also reported.

Sicknick was one of the five individuals dead as a result of Wednesday’s events.

Gov. Phil Murphy tweeted his condolences to Sicknick’s family, stating that “Officer Sicknick gave his life protecting the United States Capitol, and by extension, our very democracy, from violent insurrection,” according to NJ.com

In other news, New Jersey has confirmed 5,791 new COVID-19 cases and 112 deaths as the state opened its first two vaccination mega-sites.

This update follows a day after the state reported 6,341 new cases – the most number of cases ever announced. Officials are prepared for another spike since Christmas and New Year’s.

In a Friday news conference,  Murphy said that his “fear is the next few weeks are gonna be really tough. But there is no question there is light at the end of the tunnel.”

The following is the latest COVID-19 cases for yesterday and today.

Tune in tomorrow for the daily news update at 10 a.m.

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Brian D. Sicknick, 42, was a former New Jersey National Guard Citizen-Airmen for six years before joining the Capitol police force in 2008.

Photo Courtesy of ABC7