Witnesses reported hearing gunshots outside the Capitol after 2 p.m. Thursday, setting off a huge police response and heightened security inside the Capitol, which was already tense during shutdown negotiations.
“Gunshots have been reported on Capitol Hill requiring staff in all Senate office buildings to immediately shelter in place,” read an e-mail sent out by the Capitol Police. “Close, lock and stay away from external doors and windows. Take annunciators, emergency supply kits and escape hoods; and move to your office’s assigned shelter in place location or the innermost part of the office away from external doors or windows.”
Members not near their own offices were asked to go to the nearest office, and shelter there.
Capitol police officers could be seen with semiautomatic 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 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.
Tribune news wire reports1:58 p.m. CDT, October 3, 2013
Gunshots were fired outside the U.S. Capitol this afternoon, injuring several people including a law enforcement officer, according to reports. The Capitol was placed on lockdown.
The U.S. House of Representatives and Senate were in session when the gunshots were heard. Police called in a Medevac helicopter, a Senate aide and a U.S. Capitol policeman said.
The Senate chamber was locked with staff inside. Senate leaders were locked in their offices.
The shots were fired near the Hart Senate Office Building at 2nd St and Constitution Avenue Northeast, only a few blocks from the U.S. Supreme Court.
29839 Sta Margarita Pkwy, 
Videography by Barbara Rosenfeld 
October 3rd, 2013 @ 11:45 am
New York Times is a liberal rag! I wouldn’t believe anythung they report.
October 3rd, 2013 @ 12:30 pm
none to soon.
October 3rd, 2013 @ 12:49 pm
Any of these ground-huggers ex mud marines from Nam? Doesn’t sound like it. “Ooohh, they told us to get down!” Get Feinstein out there with that pistol she carries in her purse and she could have scared off any bad guys, senators excluded perhaps.
October 3rd, 2013 @ 2:11 pm
Now in the live press conference a reporter asked if the authorities could confirm that the suspect, now deceased, was from SOMALIA.
The officer answered that they were NOT talking about her yet.
October 4th, 2013 @ 4:39 am
It’s sad, now that I know, the wrong people doing the shooting.