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Gunshots at Capitol; Lockdown Now Lifted Car Chase Ends in Gunshots at Capitol
(35 minutes later)
WASHINGTON — The United States Capitol was locked down around 2:30 p.m. Thursday after law enforcement officers shot a woman who had been chased there in her car from the White House, officials said. WASHINGTON — The United States Capitol was locked down for about a half-hour on Thursday afternoon after law enforcement officers shot a woman who had been chased there in her car from the White House, officials said.
One official said the woman had struck a barrier near the White House and had not pulled her car over. The woman, whom the authorities did not identify, had “attempted to pass a barricade” near the White House, said Kim Dine, the chief of the Capitol Police.
At a news conference, Kim Dine, the chief of the Capitol Police, said that there were no indications that the episode had been connected to terrorism. Despite attempts by Secret Service officers to pull her over, she sped away from the White House, officials said.
One of the officials said it was not clear whether the woman rammed the White House barricade to breach it, “or whether she just hit it but it got the attention of uniformed Secret Service who attempted to pull her over.” Chief Dine said that the woman’s vehicle, a black Infiniti, struck a police car on Capitol Hill before it crashed into a barricade. Shots were fired, the woman was struck and the authorities took her to a hospital.
“She was driving at high speeds as they chased her to the Capitol,” the official said. A young child was found in the car, the authorities said. It was not clear whether the woman was armed when the authorities fired on her.
After the shooting, the woman was taken to a hospital. A young child was found in the woman’s car, a black Infiniti, according to one of the officials. “We have no information that this is related to terrorism or is anything other than an isolated incident,” Chief Dine said.
Edmund Ofori-Attah and his wife, both missionaries from Togo, were about to tour the Dirksen Senate Office Building when a black, two-door car sped by on Constitution Avenue pursued by two police cars. The car hit a barricade as it tried to make a left turn at a police checkpoint, and five to six gunshots were fired.Edmund Ofori-Attah and his wife, both missionaries from Togo, were about to tour the Dirksen Senate Office Building when a black, two-door car sped by on Constitution Avenue pursued by two police cars. The car hit a barricade as it tried to make a left turn at a police checkpoint, and five to six gunshots were fired.
“We just dropped to the ground,” Mr. Ofori-Attah said. “I didn’t want to get hit.”“We just dropped to the ground,” Mr. Ofori-Attah said. “I didn’t want to get hit.”
When Mr. Ofori-Attah got up a few minutes later, he said he saw the police remove the child from the woman’s car. As the police moved onlookers away from the scene, more police officers arrived and began chasing the suspect on foot, he said. When Mr. Ofori-Attah got up a few minutes later, he said he saw the police remove the child from the woman’s car.
A security perimeter was set up around the White House, according to Katie Beirne Fallon, a spokeswoman.A security perimeter was set up around the White House, according to Katie Beirne Fallon, a spokeswoman.
The gunshots set off a huge police response and heightened security inside the Capitol. Members not near their own offices were asked to go to the nearest office and stay there.The gunshots set off a huge police response and heightened security inside the Capitol. Members not near their own offices were asked to go to the nearest office and stay there.
Capitol police officers could be seen with semiautomatic rifles drawn as they scrambled for position on the Capitol grounds.Capitol police officers could be seen with semiautomatic rifles drawn as they scrambled for position on the Capitol grounds.
Brian Johnson, a lobbyist for the American Petroleum Institute, was returning to his car, parked on the Senate side of the Capitol, after showing around his visiting family members when he heard shots.Brian Johnson, a lobbyist for the American Petroleum Institute, was returning to his car, parked on the Senate side of the Capitol, after showing around his visiting family members when he heard shots.
“My heart just dropped, and we just ran behind my car,” he said.“My heart just dropped, and we just ran behind my car,” he said.
Several senators were outside the Capitol when they reported hearing between four and six shots. Several members of Congress were outside the Capitol when they heard between four and six shots, they said.
Representative Juan Vargas of California said he was walking back toward the Capitol when he heard several loud pops.Representative Juan Vargas of California said he was walking back toward the Capitol when he heard several loud pops.
“I heard ‘pop, pop,’ and honestly I didn’t think anything of it,” he said.“I heard ‘pop, pop,’ and honestly I didn’t think anything of it,” he said.
Then, he said, he saw a police officer charging for him. “I was wondering what’s going on, why is this guy coming at me like a maniac,” he said.Then, he said, he saw a police officer charging for him. “I was wondering what’s going on, why is this guy coming at me like a maniac,” he said.
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. Senator Sherrod Brown, Democrat of Ohio, said that he saw people in the area drop to the ground, and that 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 shooting came less than three weeks after 12 people were killed at the Washington Navy Yard, which is less than a mile away. The gunman, Aaron Alexis, was killed in a standoff with the police.The shooting came less than three weeks after 12 people were killed at the Washington Navy Yard, which is less than a mile away. The gunman, Aaron Alexis, was killed in a standoff with the police.

Ashley Southall contributed reporting.

Ashley Southall contributed reporting.