Citywide Impact of the Navy Yard Shooting (Updates)

How the Washington area is addressing the situation.

Written by Carol Ross Joynt | Published on September 16, 2013

• DC mayor Vincent Gray on Monday evening said that for the Tuesday rush hour all DC streets will be open, including those which had been closed in the vicinity of the Navy Yard.

• DC police chief Cathy Lanier on Monday evening said the Metropolitan Police are lifting the shelter in place for residents and businesses in the Navy Yard area.

• There will be a candlelight vigil at Freedom Plaza Monday night at 7:30, according to the New Organizing Institute. Participants are asked to bring a candle.

• The flags at the Capitol and at the White House have
been lowered to half staff on behalf of the victims of the Navy Yard
shooting.

• Uber tweeted that it has cars near Nationals Stadium and is giving free rides from the Navy Yard area this afternoon.

• At her afternoon news conference, Chief Lanier said employees of
business in the vicinity of the Navy Yard have been asked to remain
sheltered in place “until we finish what we have to do.” She added, “In
the next couple of hours we hope to have more information and be able to
say all suspects and victims are accounted for.”

• Chief Lanier on what Metropolitan Police officers found when they
arrived on the shooting scene: “One of the worst things we have found in
DC. We were able to get officers in the building in seven minutes.”

• DC police chief Cathy Lanier, at an afternoon
briefing, said Route 295, Kenilworth Avenue, had been reopened. She said
the area around the Navy Yard is still a “very active law enforcement
scene” but “we still have to move people around the city.” She said
commuters should avoid the area around Nationals Park and that M Street
from South Capitol Street to 11th Street, Southeast, would remain
closed.

• DC delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, at a news
conference, said, “I am asking people to withhold judgment of what
happened here. This facility began the revival of M Street. It is a very
secure facility. And the Navy has managed to keep it secure while it’s
been open to the public.”

• DC Public Schools will follow a normal closing
schedule, including the eight schools in the vicinity of the Navy Yard
that were on lockdown.

• The Nationals have postponed their Monday-night game to a double-header on Tuesday.

• Senate buildings are on lockdown. Majority leader Harry Reid earlier canceled any further Senate action for the day.