Lawmakers Look Into Tactical Response To Navy Yard Shooting

Reports that a highly-trained tactical response team was told to stand down during the Navy Yard shooting are being met with confusion and anger at the Capitol.

Some Capitol Police officers say they're furious at a commander who they say gave the order to stand down. The highly specialized and heavily-armed unit is trained specifically to respond to mass shootings. Yet officers say they were forbidden from entering the scene, while two D.C. police officers reportedly entered alone — one ended up being wounded, according to accounts.

While lawmakers are trying not to rush to judgement, they are demanding answers. Congressman Jim Moran (D-Va.) is on the committee that funds the Capitol Police, and he says they'll be looking into the timeline of events while also questioning officers.

"I need to find out why he exercised that judgment and I'm on the Legislative Branch Subcommittee that funds them," Moran says. "I do think it's fair to get an explanation, but it's not necessarily something we're going to share with the public. But it's something that's worth looking into. There's no question about that."

Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) is scheduling a meeting with the Capitol Police Union about the incident, upon the request of union officials.

She issued a statement that reads she "believes an investigation is necessary to determine whether other tactical police forces were on the scene or available, whether lives could have been saved by Capitol Police without putting the Capitol at risk, and if there was proper coordination of police forces."