State College man charged in riot assault where cop later died was ex-restaurant owner | WJAC (wjactv.com)
A State College man who previously owned a healthy eating restaurant in the city was one of two people arrested for assaulting a Capitol Police officer with bear spray during the U.S. Capitol riot on January 6th.
The Department of Justice says Julian Khater can be seen on officer body cameras and surveillance video spraying bear spray at three officers while other rioters worked to remove barriers blocking them from moving closer to the Capitol building, where the Electoral College vote was being held to certify now-President Joe Biden as the winner of the 2020 election over then-President Donald Trump.
Investigators say Khater himself was then hit with a chemical agent by officers. But later he began spraying at police again before officers responded in kind.
One of the officers Khater is alleged to have hit was Brian Sicknick. Several hours later, Officer Sicknick collapsed and he died the next day.
Sicknick’s cause of death is still unknown, but while Investigators initially believed that Sicknick was hit in the head with a fire extinguisher, sources now tell the Associated Press the working 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.
Charging documents show that a source identified Khater and his friend George Tanios from those listed as persons of interest by the FBI. Another tipster recognized Khater from working together at a food establishment in State College.
That business isn’t specified, but 6 News has learned that Khater used to own a business called Frutta Bowls on East Beaver St. in State College. The business was shuttered last year amid the pandemic and financial problems that led to bankruptcy.
Khater was arrested Sunday while getting off of a plane in Newark, New Jersey.
Since Officer Sicknick’s cause of death is still under investigation, both men have been charged with conspiring to injure officers and assaulting federal officers, among other charges.
The men made their first appearance in court today. Khater consented to being held without bail, pending a detention hearing in Washington, DC, according to NBC News.
Another State College man, Brian Gunderson, was charged in January with unlawfully entering a restricted building and other related charges for his role in the riot.
A State College man who previously owned a healthy eating restaurant in the city was one of two people arrested for assaulting a Capitol Police officer with bear spray during the U.S. Capitol riot on January 6th.
The Department of Justice says Julian Khater can be seen on officer body cameras and surveillance video spraying bear spray at three officers while other rioters worked to remove barriers blocking them from moving closer to the Capitol building, where the Electoral College vote was being held to certify now-President Joe Biden as the winner of the 2020 election over then-President Donald Trump.
Investigators say Khater himself was then hit with a chemical agent by officers. But later he began spraying at police again before officers responded in kind.
One of the officers Khater is alleged to have hit was Brian Sicknick. Several hours later, Officer Sicknick collapsed and he died the next day.
Sicknick’s cause of death is still unknown, but while Investigators initially believed that Sicknick was hit in the head with a fire extinguisher, sources now tell the Associated Press the working 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.
Charging documents show that a source identified Khater and his friend George Tanios from those listed as persons of interest by the FBI. Another tipster recognized Khater from working together at a food establishment in State College.
That business isn’t specified, but 6 News has learned that Khater used to own a business called Frutta Bowls on East Beaver St. in State College. The business was shuttered last year amid the pandemic and financial problems that led to bankruptcy.
Khater was arrested Sunday while getting off of a plane in Newark, New Jersey.
Since Officer Sicknick’s cause of death is still under investigation, both men have been charged with conspiring to injure officers and assaulting federal officers, among other charges.
The men made their first appearance in court today. Khater consented to being held without bail, pending a detention hearing in Washington, DC, according to NBC News.
Another State College man, Brian Gunderson, was charged in January with unlawfully entering a restricted building and other related charges for his role in the riot.
