Capitol On Lockdown: Shots Fired Outside Building

The U.S. Capitol was placed on lockdown after shots were heard being fired outside the building on Thursday afternoon.

Capitol police say that the shots were heard around 2:19 p.m. and that the Captitol was subsequently locked down, reported the Washington Post. Those inside the building have taken to Twitter to also confirm the reports, including Sen. Claire McCaskill

Shots fired outside the Capitol. We are in temporary lock down.

— Claire McCaskill (@clairecmc) October 3, 2013

FBI units were sent to the scene of the incident, which was at Garfield Circle on the West Front of the capitol, according to CNN. Officers equipped with semi-automatic weapons were spotted running to post up near the exits of the first floor of the House side of the building.

The incident began at the White House where the suspect attempted to ram the gate of the White House, reported ABC News. The female suspect then headed to the Capitol where she was reportedly shot dead by officers.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid stated he believed that there was at least one person injured to CNN reporter Dana Bush. No official injury report has been made.

Both the Senate and House are on recess until further notice after the Capitol shooting, as the U.S. Government remains in an ongoing shutdown.

– Chelsea Regan

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