U.S. Capitol Goes On Lockdown After Gunshots Fired Outside
The United States Capitol went on lockdown Thursday afternoon after shots were fired outside the building.
According to the Associated Press, Capitol police said one officer had been injured.
Both NBC and ABC reported that the incident started with the suspect ramming the White House gates before fleeing to the Capitol. Both outlets also reported that the suspect was a woman.
The Capitol complex reopened just before 3 p.m. ET.
According to a White House official, President Barack Obama was briefed on the incident.
"The President was briefed on the reports of gunfire on Capitol Hill this afternoon. White House staff are in touch with law enforcement and monitoring the incident," the official said.
Alex Leary of the Tampa Bay Times tweeted a photo of the scene at the Capitol:
Another photo from inside the Capitol:
Televisions inside the Capitol showed the following warning:
Below, more from the Associated Press:
A police officer was reported injured after gunshots at the U.S. Capitol, police said Thursday. They locked down the entire complex, derailing debate over how to end a government shutdown.
Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., told reporters he was walking from the Capitol to the Senate Russell Office Building across the street when he noticed several police officers driving fast up Constitution Avenue on motorcycles.
"Within seconds of that," Casey said, "we heard three, four, five pops," which he assumed were gunshots. He said police ordered Casey and nearby tourists to crouch behind a car for protection.
In about two minutes, he said, the officers moved everyone into the Capitol.
FBI agents rushed to the scene and Senate Sergeant at Arms Terrance Gainer said: "There are reports of injuries."
The report comes two weeks after a mentally disturbed employee terrorized the Navy Yard with a shotgun, leaving 13 people dead including the gunman.
As a warning was sounded, the House abruptly went into recess and lawmakers left the chamber floor. The Senate also suspended business.
Before the disruption, lawmakers had been trying to find common ground to end a government shutdown. The House had just finished approving legislation aimed at partly lifting the government shutdown by paying National Guard and Reserve members.
People standing outside the Supreme Court across the street from Congress were hurried into the court building by authorities.
The White House was quickly locked down after the incident at Capitol Hill and the stretch of Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the compound was closed to pedestrians. Secret Service said the procedures were precautionary.
This is a developing story and has been updated.
According to the Associated Press, Capitol police said one officer had been injured.
Both NBC and ABC reported that the incident started with the suspect ramming the White House gates before fleeing to the Capitol. Both outlets also reported that the suspect was a woman.
The Capitol complex reopened just before 3 p.m. ET.
According to a White House official, President Barack Obama was briefed on the incident.
"The President was briefed on the reports of gunfire on Capitol Hill this afternoon. White House staff are in touch with law enforcement and monitoring the incident," the official said.
Alex Leary of the Tampa Bay Times tweeted a photo of the scene at the Capitol:
Another photo from inside the Capitol:
Televisions inside the Capitol showed the following warning:
Below, more from the Associated Press:
A police officer was reported injured after gunshots at the U.S. Capitol, police said Thursday. They locked down the entire complex, derailing debate over how to end a government shutdown.
Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., told reporters he was walking from the Capitol to the Senate Russell Office Building across the street when he noticed several police officers driving fast up Constitution Avenue on motorcycles.
"Within seconds of that," Casey said, "we heard three, four, five pops," which he assumed were gunshots. He said police ordered Casey and nearby tourists to crouch behind a car for protection.
In about two minutes, he said, the officers moved everyone into the Capitol.
FBI agents rushed to the scene and Senate Sergeant at Arms Terrance Gainer said: "There are reports of injuries."
The report comes two weeks after a mentally disturbed employee terrorized the Navy Yard with a shotgun, leaving 13 people dead including the gunman.
As a warning was sounded, the House abruptly went into recess and lawmakers left the chamber floor. The Senate also suspended business.
Before the disruption, lawmakers had been trying to find common ground to end a government shutdown. The House had just finished approving legislation aimed at partly lifting the government shutdown by paying National Guard and Reserve members.
People standing outside the Supreme Court across the street from Congress were hurried into the court building by authorities.
The White House was quickly locked down after the incident at Capitol Hill and the stretch of Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the compound was closed to pedestrians. Secret Service said the procedures were precautionary.
This is a developing story and has been updated.
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REPORTS: Incident Started At White House.. Officer Injured During Chase
Video, Capitol Hill,