Police descend on Capitol: ‘Bad call’ sets off panic and order to shelter in place
Rachel Schilke Eden Villalovas
Video Embed
United States Capitol Police said on Wednesday that officers are responding to a possible active shooter in one of the Senate office buildings.
Capitol Police said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, that officers are searching “in and around the Senate Office Buildings” in response to a 911 call.
DONALD TRUMP INDICTED: THREE TAKEAWAYS FROM FORMER PRESIDENT’S THIRD INDICTMENT
“Please stay away from the area as we are still investigating. We will continue to communicate with the public here,” the Capitol Police said. “If you are inside the Senate Buildings, everyone inside should be sheltering in place as the report was for a possible active shooter. It should be noted that we do not have any confirmed reports of gunshots.”
https://twitter.com/CapitolPolice/status/1686811141438062592
An internal security threat email was sent to all Senate staffers. All staffers were told to move inside their office or the nearest office immediately and close, lock, and stay away from external doors and windows.
“No one will be permitted to enter or exit the building until directed by USCP,” the threat alert said.
The Capitol Police told staff in the Senate office buildings to shelter in place due to “a security threat inside the building” and advised staffers to await further direction in an alert email.
The Metropolitan Police Department for the District of Columbia told the Washington Examiner: “A call came in for an active shooter. It appears to be a bad call. No injuries and no shooter were located. MPD is assisting U.S. Capitol Police.”
Staffers told the Washington Examiner that the Russell Senate Office Building was evacuated.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Capitol Police are expected to give a press briefing shortly, located at 1st Street and Constitution Avenue.
This is a breaking news story and will be updated.