Shots fired at U.S.Capitol, female suspect killed

[CountDeMoney]

Shots fired at U.S.Capitol, female suspect killed
By Michael O'Brien, Pete Williams and Richard Esposito, NBC News

The United States Capitol was placed on lockdown Thursday afternoon after a woman tried to ram a car into the White House gate, was chased by Secret Service and exchanged shots with police, sources said.

The suspect — who had a child in the car — was shot and killed, and a shelter-in-place order was lifted at about 3 p.m. At least one Capitol Police officer was injured but apparently not shot.

"This appears to be an isolated incident," a Capitol Police Chief Kim Dine. "Both scenes are under control."

President Barack Obama was briefed about the harrowing incident, which came in the midst of the government shutdown that has created a tense atmosphere on Capitol Hill.

It started a little after 2 p.m. when the woman in a black car tried to breach White House security at 15th St. and E, law-enforcement sources said.

She did not get through and was chased at high speeds for about 12 blocks, the sources said. Near the Capitol, she began firing and was shot, the sources said. The child was reported to be safe.

Her motive was unknown but Capitol Police said there was no reason to think it was an act of terrorism.

Travis Gillbert, who watched the chase from the roof of the Newseum, said vehicles involved "had several close encounters with other vehicles during the case."

"It was very dangerous," he said.

An NBC satellite truck operator saw several police cars with lights flashing near the gardens below the Capitol when he suddenly heard rapid-fire shots. Several police cars could then be seen chasing the black car, he reported.

The FBI responded to the scene, and a helicopter landed in front of the Capitol to medevac the injured officer.

A message from the Capitol Police ordered anyone in a House office to "shelter in place," but that order was lifted a short time later.

The House recessed, and the Senate went into a quorum call — dispensing momentarily with its official business — shortly thereafter.

"We've locked the doors. We closed the window shades. And we are awaiting further instructions," Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.) told MSNBC during the lockdown. "We're more or less cut off here. We're watching TV and just trying to figure out what happened."

Though it was over quickly, nerves were still jangled.

"Shaken is a good word to describe how I'm feeling," said Peter Plocki, a government worker furloughed during the shutdown who was on Capitol Hill to take a tour of the Supreme Court building and heard the shots.

The House reconvened at 3:30 p.m., and Rep. John Culberson, R-Texas, asked for a brief moment of silence in tribute to members of the Capitol Police injured in the incident. The House immediately pivoted back to debate over a small stopgap bill to reinstate funding for veterans' affairs.

Congress has been locked for the past week and a half in a contentious debate over funding the government, a disagreement in which contributed to a government shutdown that began Monday.

[11B4V]

To bad it wasnt actually an active shooter in the House.

[grumbler]

To bad it wasnt actually an active shooter in the House.

[CountDeMoney]

See 11Bravo star in his all new one-man show, 'Waiting for McVeigh'! Two shows daily at the Ruby Ridge Dinner Theater, with matinees on Sunday and Wednesday! Get your tickets now!

[11B4V]

See 11Bravo star in his all new one-man show, 'Waiting for McVeigh'! Two shows daily at the Ruby Ridge Dinner Theater, with matinees on Sunday and Wednesday! Get your tickets now!

But, but where's your sterotype on this one Sparky? The navy yard shooting didnt pan out either for ya.

[CountDeMoney]

But, but where's your sterotype on this one Sparky? The navy yard shooting didnt pan out either for ya.

So I thought Navy Yard was crazy white dude.  Turned out to be crazy black dude.   Well color me busted at the OTB.

[Admiral Yi]

See 11Bravo star in his all new one-man show, 'Waiting for McVeigh'! Two shows daily at the Ruby Ridge Dinner Theater, with matinees on Sunday and Wednesday! Get your tickets now!

I don't see how someone wishing a White House shooter had targeted the House instead can be construed as a McVeigh militia wingnut.

[derspiess]

Seedy: grasping at straws since 2002.

[DGuller]

Fingers crossed until we hear more about the shooter.

[CountDeMoney]

I don't see how someone wishing a White House shooter had targeted the House instead can be construed as a McVeigh militia wingnut.

Anybody wishing an active shooter at the House deserves to be construed as any nut I feel like construing. 

I'm not a big fan of the House either, but I'm not wishing active shootings in it.  11Bravo wants to be a tasteless dickhead, he's going to be treated as such.

[Admiral Yi]

Anybody wishing an active shooter at the House deserves to be construed as any nut I feel like construing. 

Nope.

[DGuller]

I'm not a big fan of the House either, but I'm not wishing active shootings in it.

Active shootings are too chaotic.

[CountDeMoney]

Anybody wishing an active shooter at the House deserves to be construed as any nut I feel like construing. 

Nope.

Yup.

[Eddie Teach]

Fingers crossed until we hear more about the shooter.

Baby in car? I'd lean more to pure crazy as opposed to politicized crazy.

[DGuller]

Fingers crossed until we hear more about the shooter.

Baby in car? I'd lean more to pure crazy as opposed to politicized crazy.

Probably, but let's not lose hope just yet.