BREAKING NEWSShots Fired At The U.S. Capitol — Two Dead Including A Police Officer And The Suspect: Authorities
Apr. 2 2021, Updated 4:01 p.m. ET
An incident at the U.S. Capitol on Friday, April 2, left one Capitol police officer dead and another injured. The suspect is also dead.
During a news conference on Friday afternoon, Yogananda Pittman, acting chief of the U.S. Capitol Police, laid out the details leading to the incident that occurred at about 1:02 p.m. ET on Capitol Hill.
"The suspect entered what we refer to as the north barricade of the Capitol. The suspect rammed his car into two of our officers and then hit the north barricade barrier," Pittman said. "At such time the suspect exited the vehicle with a knife in hand. Our officers then engaged that suspect. He did not respond to verbal commands.
"The suspect did start lunging toward U.S. Capitol Police officers, at which time U.S. Capitol Police officers fired upon the suspect. At this time the suspect has been pronounced deceased," she added.
Two U.S. Capitol Police officers were taken to two different hospitals with injuries and one has died, Pittman said. The deceased officer's name was not released.
"I just ask that the public continue to keep U.S. Capitol Police and their families in your prayers," Pittman added.
Robert Contee, acting chief of the Metropolitan Police Department, said the attack "does not appear to be terrorism," but an investigation will continue.
In a tweet shortly before 1:30 p.m., the U.S. Capitol Police tweeted that they were "responding to the North Barricade vehicle access point along Independence Avenue for reports someone rammed a vehicle into two USCP officers." Police later corrected the location saying it happened near Constitution Avenue.
The Capitol was put on lockdown “due to an external security threat,” and staff members were told they could not enter or exit.
The crash and shooting happened at a security checkpoint near the Capitol as Congress is on recess. The incident comes nearly three months after a mob of pro-Donald Trump, armed insurrectionists stormed the Capitol as Congress was voting to certify Joe Biden’s presidential win.
The violent events of January 6 left five people dead, including a Capitol Police officer Brian D. Sicknick. Two officers later died by suicide after responding to the riot.
This story is developing....
