US Capitol lockdown lifted following shooting, one officer, suspect dead
Apr 2, 2021, 11:28 AM | Updated: Dec 29, 2022, 12:29 pm
FILE - In this March 20, 2021, file photo the U.S. Capitol dome stands past partially-removed razor wire hanging from a security fence on Capitol Hill in Washington. Authorities suggested for weeks in court hearings and papers that members of the Oath Keepers militia group planned their attack on the Capitol in advance in an effort to block the peaceful transition of power. But prosecutors have since said it’s not clear whether the group was targeting the Capitol before Jan. 6, giving defense attorneys an opening to try to sow doubt in the government’s case. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)
(AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)
WASHINGTON— Police have lifted the locked-down of the U.S. Capitol on Friday afternoon after a shooting in the area. One officer and the suspect involved are dead following the incident.
Law enforcement says one suspect rammed into two Capitol police officers. Police state the suspect supposedly had a knife. In response, police discharged their firearms at the north barricade of the Capitol complex. The second officer who was hit by the vehicle is currently in the hospital.
In a tweet, U.S. Capitol Police said all Capitol buildings were being locked down “due to an external security threat” and staff members were told they could not enter or exit the buildings.
CRITICAL INCIDENT: USCP is responding to the North Barricade vehicle access point along Independence Avenue for reports someone rammed a vehicle into two USCP officers. A suspect is in custody. Both officers are injured. All three have been transported to the hospital. pic.twitter.com/4TXIdulJc6
— U.S. Capitol Police (@CapitolPolice) April 2, 2021
While the lockdown has been lifted, there continues to be a heavy police presence and the crime scene is currently restricted.
The Metropolitan Police chief, Robert Contee, said during a news briefing that authorities do not believe there is an ongoing threat to the public. Additionally, Contee said the incident does not appear to be terrorist-related at this time.
President Biden responds
President Joe Biden ordered the American flag to be lower to half-staff at the White House, following the shooting near the White House that killed two, including a Capitol police officer William Evans.
“Jill and I were heartbroken to learn of the violent attack at a security checkpoint on the U.S. Capitol grounds, which killed Officer William Evans of the U.S. Capitol Police, and left a fellow officer fighting for his life,” the president said in a statement Friday.
DC authorities have not confirmed the state of the second officer transported to the hospital but noted the officer did sustain injuries.
President Biden expressed his condolences to the Evans family and the late enforcement community, noting “what a difficult time this has been for the Capitol, everyone who works there, and those who protect it.”
“I want to express the nation’s gratitude to the Capitol Police, the National Guard Immediate Response Force, and others who quickly responded to this attack,” President Biden said.
The shooting that killed Evans and the suspect involved occurred two months after a deadly riot at the US Capitol, which took the lives of five people, including US Capitol police officer Brian D. Sicknick.
