US Capitol Grounds Locked Down as Gunman Shoots Himself

The U.S. Capitol building in Washington was locked down as a precautionary measure after shots were fired near the building and a suspicious package was found. A television network said the shooter was dead.

The suspected shooter was “neutralized” by a self- inflicted gunshot, said Lieutenant Kimberly Schneider, public information officer for the U.S. Capitol Police.

NBC News reported that the shooter had killed himself, and that the package appeared to be the shooter’s suitcase. A federal official told NBC that there were no indications of terrorism.

The shots were fired Saturday afternoon near the West Front of the building that includes the U.S. House and Senate chambers, and the package found on the lower West Terrace, which overlooks the National Mall. Lawmakers have been on recess and weren’t meeting.

The Capitol Visitor Center also was on lockdown and nearby streets closed on a day when tens of thousands of visitors were in the city for the annual Cherry Blossom Festival Parade, one of Washington’s largest spectator events.

Capitol Police were being assisted by multiple law enforcement agencies, including the D.C. Police Department and the D.C. Fire Department, Schneider said.

Local media reported that hazmat teams were on hand to investigate the shooter’s belongings.