A Capitol Police officer shot and wounded a man who allegedly brought a gun into the Capitol Visitors Center Monday afternoon, prompting authorities to lock down the Capitol complex. The man was not injured seriously and is now in custody.
Gunshots were reported shortly before 3 PM, prompting police to secure the complex, including preventing people from entering or exiting any of the buildings. The White House, which is hosting its annual Easter Egg Roll, was also briefly put under similar measures, but is now allowing the thousands of participating families to depart.
An email sent to Senate employees shortly after the gunshots advised people inside the Capitol complex to “shelter in place” and lock the windows. The order was lifted shortly before 4 PM so that Capitol staffers could resume their normal business, but the Visitors Center remains closed.
It was reported earlier that a Capitol Police officer had been shot, but the House Sergeant of Arms has said that there are no reports of any officers injured. The DC Police Department says the incident is isolated to the Capitol and does not pose a threat to the public.
Benjamin Freed joined Washingtonian in August 2013 and covers politics, business, and media. He was previously the editor of DCist and has also written for Washington City Paper, the New York Times, the New Republic, Slate, and BuzzFeed. He lives in Adams Morgan.
