The United States Capitol was placed on lock down Thursday afternoon following reports of shots fired in the vicinity of the chamber.
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US Senators were put on lock down and people were ordered to “stay away from the windows” because of “possible shots fired.”
According to ABC News:
The alert came around 2:25 p.m. when Capitol Police told the press and others in the Capitol to stay away from the windows.
The police also said that the senators were told to come into the building and were in lock down on the Senate side of the building.
Senator Bob Casey said,”We heard pops that sounded like shots.” Senator Sherrod Brown added, “We heard shots. They told us to get behind a car.”
According to NBC News:
The reports of gunshots were unconfirmed, but the FBI was responding to the scene. A message from the Capitol Police ordered anyone in a House office to “shelter in place.”
“Close, lock and stay away from external doors and windows,” the message said.
The House recessed, and the Senate went into a quorum call — dispensing momentarily with its official business — shortly thereafter.
UPDATE: According to the Associated Press, Capitol police said one officer had been injured, and a shooter is reportedly in custody.
NBC and ABC both report that the incident started at the White House before moving to the Capitol.
Photo: AP/File
