Sicknick text-messaged his brother on Wednesday night after the riot, reporting that he had been twice attacked with pepper spray and was "in good shape".[20] Shortly before 10 p.m., however, nearly 8 hours after he was sprayed,[19] and some time after he had returned to his division office,[32] Sicknick collapsed.[a] Sicknick was taken to a hospital in the D.C. area. As his condition deteriorated, rumors had begun to circulate of an officer's death, and on Thursday afternoon the department issued a statement rebutting such reports.[20][35] Sicknick died around 9:30 p.m. on January 7.[20][26] Family members had not yet arrived at the hospital when he died.[20]