WASHINGTON, March 28 (UPI) — A police officer was shot and the gunman was taken into custody after gunfire at the U.S. Capitol complex’s visitor center Monday afternoon, officials said.
Authorities and emergency medical personnel responded to the reports, but it wasn’t immediately clear exactly how many people were injured.
The Capitol’s sergeant-at-arms said one U.S. Capitol Police officer was wounded, but the injuries are not serious.
It wasn’t clear whether the shooter was himself shot, but news media reported the suspect was taken to the hospital in custody.
Capitol workers were told by police to shelter in place due to a potential security threat and staffers received an email from officials that stated that authorities were locking down the entire Capitol complex.
Other media reports indicated that the White House was also locked down, but there was no immediate official confirmation.
“The Capitol has been locked down due to reports of shots being fired at the Capitol Visitors Center. No other information is available at this time,” supervisors of the House Daily Press Gallery said in a statement.
The shooting happened just before 3 p.m. EDT Monday. Washington, D.C., police called it an isolated incident and said there was no threat to the general public.
Heavy security is a constant presence at the Capitol’s complex, as several shootings have occurred there in the last 20 years.
