From: Judy Miriga
About twenty minutes ago it is reported that A police officer was reported injured after gunshots at the U.S. Capitol.
Take care people !!!
Judy Miriga
Diaspora Spokesperson
Executive Director
Confederation Council Foundation for Africa Inc.,
USA
http://socioeconomicforum50.blogspot.com
[image] This view from the Russell Senate Office Building shows police converging on the scene of a shooting on Constitution Avenue on Capitol Hill near the Supreme Court in Washington, Thursday, Oct. 3, 2013. A police officer was reported injured after gunshots at the U.S. Capitol, police said Thursday. They locked down the entire complex, at least temporarily derailing debate over how to end a government shutdown. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Thursday October 3rd 2013
Chris Moody and Dylan Stableford 14 minutes ago
WASHINGTON — U.S. Capitol Police lifted a shelter-in-place warning at all U.S. Senate office buildings on Thursday after reports of multiple shots were heard in the area, and one suspect reported dead.
“Close, lock and stay away from external doors and windows,” the alert issued early Thursday afternoon, read. “Take your annunciators, emergency supply kits or go kits, and escape hoods. Move to your office’s shelter in place location or the innermost part of your office suites and check in with your OEC.” The lockdown was later lifted.
Earlier, police could be seen swarming the grounds near the U.S. Capitol building with guns drawn.
Yahoo News reporter Chris Moody was on Independence Avenue outside the U.S. Capitol when he heard three shots ring out.
About half a dozen police cars sped west down Constitution Avenue toward the scene. Moments later, other police vehicles sped back the other way.
Capitol Police told tourists and staffers near the Capitol building to walk south past the House congressional offices and all buildings were locked down. Staffers waited outside.
Tim Wilson, a spokesperson with the District of Columbia Fire and EMS Department, told Yahoo News that medical personnel transported one patient from the scene who suffered life-threatening injuries. He would not give the gender of the patient or the nature of the injuries.
Multiple news outlets reported that a female suspect was dead on the scene.
A police news conference was scheduled for 3 p.m.
One eyewitness told Yahoo News she saw a black car being chased by police and they surrounded the suspect when the shots rang out.
“Police were shooting at [the car],” a witness told Yahoo News. “They had [the driver] blocked up and he kept going around the Capitol building and around and around. Then I heard a loud crash on the other side of the Capitol.”
Another witness said police began shooting when the car sped off after being trapped.
“We saw a black car and a couple of cop cars behind him,” that witness said. “He kind of got stuck in front of the Capitol building where the pillars are. The cops got out of their car and surrounded [the suspect] and started yelling. Somehow [the car] turned around and almost hit a couple of them and that’s when the cops started shooting.”
Something happening outside Capitol. Police running around with guns at ready. pic.twitter.com/7JkF5fMzfS
— Alex Leary (@learyreports) October 3, 2013
Reports of shots fired not far from the US Capitol; this warning for Shelter in Place pic.twitter.com/ddbI6m8pQQ
— Jamie Dupree (@jamiedupree) October 3, 2013
Helicopter outside the Capitol pic.twitter.com/B0zDujqWHQ
BRADLEY KLAPPER and LAURIE KELLMAN 20 minutes ago
WASHINGTON (AP) — A police officer was reported injured after gunshots at the U.S. Capitol, police said Thursday. They locked down the entire complex, at least temporarily derailing debate over how to end a government shutdown.
The shooting unfolded after police chased a black car up Constitution Avenue toward the Capitol, said tourist Edmund Ofori-Attah, who walked toward the scene as the car stopped.
“Then I heard the gunfire” and hit the ground, he said.
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.”
After nearly an hour, police ended the lockdown.
The shooting 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 also was briefly 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.
— Lucia Graves (@lucia_graves) October 3, 2013