Man Shoots Himself Near US Capitol; Suspicious Package Investigated
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Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) — A man shot himself near the U.S. Capitol Building on Saturday, prompting the building to be put on lockdown for several hours and staff told to shelter in place.
The man shot himself near the West Front of the U.S. Capitol Building early Saturday afternoon, according to police. He later died from his injuries.
Although the man shot himself, the Capitol was locked down as a precautionary measure, Sgt. Kimberly Schneider of the U.S. Capitol Police said.
The man was wearing a blue backpack and had a sign taped to his hand. There was concern about the man’s backpack being suspicious, but Capitol Hill Police Chief Kim Dine said in a news conference early Saturday evening that the bag posed no danger.
“We continue to investigate the incident. Metropolitan police department is on the scene. They will be responsible for the death investigation,” he said.
The lockdown was lifted shortly before 4 p.m. local time. Dien said the area is now clear, but authorities continue to investigate the incident.
“There seems to be no nexus to terrorism or anything like that but obviously we will continue to investigate the gentleman,” he said.
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