Capitol Car Chase Ends In Shots Fired Near Senate Building

A woman who reportedly tried to ram a security barrier outside the White House led U.S. Capitol Police on a high-speed chase that ended near Capitol Hill, where gunshots were fired by police. Congressional lawmakers were briefly ordered to shelter in place, but by 3 p.m. ET, police had lifted the lockdown.

The incident left a suspect dead and two police officers injured.

In a news conference, Washington, D.C., Police Chief Cathy Lanier said she was "pretty confident that this is not an accident."

The woman, Lanier said, tried to breach a security check point at the White House and then drove toward the Capitol complex.

A video of the incident shows the black car being chased by police, speeding to a halt. The vehicle is surrounded by several officers with sidearms drawn before it speeds away.

Lanier said that after that, the woman drove the vehicle several blocks away from the Capitol where she crashed and officers opened fire. The woman was declared dead later.

The Associated Press, quoting a law enforcement official, said the vehicle "tried to ram a security barricade at the White House." The news agency says the driver then "proceeded down Pennsylvania Ave. toward Capitol Hill, where shots were fired."

Witnesses report that some 20 police cars were involved in the chase of the woman's black vehicle.

Chief Dine, speaking to reporters at about 3:40 p.m. ET, said the scene had been secured and that there was no reason to think the incident was anything other than isolated and that it was not connected to terrorism.

Both officers are expected to be OK, officials said.

"The President was briefed on the reports of gunfire on Capitol Hill this afternoon. White House staff are in touch with law enforcement and monitoring the incident," A White House official told reporters.

The New York Times says:

"Several senators were outside the Capitol when they reported between four and six shots fired. Police officers in a high-speed chase pulled over a black car in front of one of the Senate office buildings, but witnesses said a man fled on foot with a gun visible.

'I heard a pop-pop-pop, and we were told to get down,' said Senator Bob Casey, Democrat of Pennsylvania.

Senator Sherrod Brown, Democrat of Ohio, said he saw people in the area drop to the ground, and Capitol police officers yelled for him, Mr. Casey and Senators Jeff Merkley of Oregon, Roger Wicker of Mississippi and Bernie Sanders of Vermont to lie on the ground."

The AP says:

"As a warning was sounded, the House abruptly went into recess and lawmakers left the chamber floor. The House had just finished approving legislation aimed at partly lifting the government shutdown by paying National Guard and Reserve members.

People standing outside the Supreme Court across the street from Congress were hurried into the court building by authorities.

The White House was quickly locked down after the incident at Capitol Hill and the stretch of Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the compound was closed to pedestrians. Secret Service said the procedures were precautionary."

Buzzfeed's Capitol reporter Kate Nocera says that she was outside the building when a police officer ordered her to run into the building. She tweeted this picture:

House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi tweeted:

Update At 2:58 p.m. ET:

The New York Times reports that some members of Congress were told to get on the ground when the shots were fired:

"Capitol police could be seen with semi-automatic rifles drawn as they scrambled for position on the Capitol grounds.

"Several senators were outside the Capitol when they reported between four and six shots fired. Police in a high speed chase pulled over a black car in front of one of the Senate office buildings but witnesses said a man fled on foot with a gun visible.

"'I heard a pop pop pop and we were told to get down,' said Senator Bob Casey, Democrat of Pennsylvania."

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