(Reuters) – The District of Columbia Retirement Board has ruled that a cop died in the line of duty after he was injured during the Jan. 6th, 2021 riot at Capitol. Washington Post reported.

According to the Washington Post, Jeffrey Smith was killed by the suicide of his Metropolitan Police Officer colleague Jeffrey Smith. The Washington Firefighters and Police Retirement and Relief board sent a Monday letter stating that Jeffrey Smith died from the suicide on Jan. 6.

Erin Smith, his widow, fought for one year to get the board’s decision reversed that denied her husband’s suicide in the line-of-duty.

This latest ruling gives her the opportunity to receive an annual annuity equivalent to her husband’s salary. According to the Post, it opens up the possibility of a memorial service for her husband at the Capitol Rotunda. This is in addition to other awards typically given to fallen officers.

The board received medical records that Smith became unconscious when he was hit in the head during the disturbance. According to the newspaper, Smith displayed mood and behavioral changes that eventually led him to suicide.

“Officer Jeffrey Smith would still be alive today if he hadn’t risked his life to defend all of us at the U.S. Capitol and our democracy itself on January 6th,” U.S. Representative Don Beyer, who represents Smith’s district in Congress, said in a statement.

Smith was one among four Metropolitan police officers who committed suicide that day after protecting the building.

Hundreds of Trump supporters stormed into the building to protest Congress’ failure to certify the win by Democrat Joe Biden.

The violence resulted in the deaths of four persons.

One Capitol Police officer was killed in a protest attack. Over 100 officers sustained injuries.

Trump was forced to resign after all the mayhem. For their involvement in violence, more than 500 people were detained.