U.S. Capitol and Visitor’s Center on lockdown after shots fired

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: WTOP

By WTOP Staff April 11, 2015 2:06 pm

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Capitol and the Capitol Visitor Center are on lockdown Saturday after shots were fired.

According to a spokesperson for U.S. Capitol Police, shots were fired on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol Building. The suspected shooter is no longer a threat, but the U.S. Capitol and the Capitol Visitor Center were locked down as a precaution.

Due to a police incident, the Capitol and CVC are currently on lock down. #alerts

— SenateSergeantAtArms (@SenateSAA) April 11, 2015

Capitol Police are also investigating a suspicious package on the lower West Terrace of the U.S. Capitol Building.

First Street is currently closed between Independence Avenue, Southwest and Constitution Avenue, Northwest.

Read more: http://wtop.com/dc/2015/04/u-s-capitol-and-visitors-center-on-lockdown-shots-fired/

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That's all there is for the moment. Heard about it locally here about 5 minutes ago.

Edit to add:

<...>

The suspected shooter has been neutralized. The building has been locked down as a precautionary measure, according to officials. US Capitol police confirmed it was a self-inflicted gunshot by the subject.

A law enforcement source told WUSA9's Bruce Leshan that a "guy" pulled out a handgun and shot himself in the head. His condition is unknown, according to the source.

<...?

http://www.wusa9.com/story/news/local/dc/2015/04/11/capitol-building-lockdown-shooting/25632025/

[onehandle]

1. Guns are handy. nt

[BumRushDaShow]

2. They do make some noise. nt

[shenmue]

3. Another story on BBC

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-32270655

Wow.

[LiberalEsto]

4. NBC4 reporting it was a suicide

http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/299452321.html

[BumRushDaShow]

5. Right before I posted

the thing about a "possible suicide" was mentioned by the local news radio (CBS affiliate) here, although the announcer emphasized about how the situation was still in flux and the info might change.

[calimary]

6. Details - ABC News seems to have the most.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/man-shoots-us-capitol-suspicious-package-investigated/story?id=30248909

[951-Riverside]

7. Just another day in America. n/t

[brett_jv]

8. Somebody who wanted to be 'famous' on their way out, get on teh news ...

A lot of times people w/thoughts like these ... do a LOT WORSE than what this guy did.

Thankfully, he only took himself out.

BTW, how does anyone get anywhere near the Capitol Building with a handgun?

[BumRushDaShow]

9. The Capitol takes up a pretty large area

with thousands of tourists and workers milling around, so there's no way to know who has a concealed weapon unless they try to go inside with it.

[Cryptoad]

10. well they do get frothed up on NRA Convention Weekends......

[valerief]

11. Another good guy with a gun just being "American." nt

[ananda]

12. Maybe like the Texas lege they'll just ...

... increase access to firearms.

You know, add fire to fire.

[FailureToCommunicate]

13. Another reason 'why we can't have nice things'. And why there are LONG security lines at all D.C.

major attractions.

Distraught people, easy guns.

http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/magazine-features/guns-and-suicide-the-hidden-toll/

[Historic NY]

17. So true...

a delay caused by a red tape process of a background instead of instance on demand purchase would IMO save more than a few lives. But we don't have much of that.

[Action_Patrol]

14. All of this will have been recorded as well.

The Capitol has cameras everywhere. With his luggage, I wonder if he came from Union Station which is across the street.

[BumRushDaShow]

15. There's also a Metro stop right there.

I remember using the Orange Line to head back to my hotel after walking the length of the mall to the Capitol.

[Action_Patrol]

16. I work there.

He could have come from anywhere. Union Station/Capitol South. It's sad how many people he interacted with on his way to do that to himself. You just never know what torment the person sitting next to you or walking passed you is going through.

[BumRushDaShow]

18. Exactly. nt

[Sunlei]

19. another sad, public suicide? :*(