(Headline USA) A car rammed a barricade outside the U.S. Capitol on Friday afternoon, injuring two Capitol Police officers and leading to the driver being shot, two law enforcement officials told The Associated Press.
Capitol Police say that someone “rammed a vehicle into two USCP officers.”
At least one officer was reported dead. The driver was reported to have died after being shot by a third USCP officer.
The suspect reportedly emerged from the car carrying a knife. After being shot, the individual was initially reported to have been taken into custody.
Capitol Police say the crash happened at a checkpoint near the Capitol. The U.S. Capitol complex was placed on lockdown after the shooting and staff were told they could not enter or exit buildings.
The law enforcement officials told the AP that the suspect was shot and was being taken to the hospital in critical condition. One of the officers who was injured was taken by police car to the hospital; the other was being transported by emergency medical crews, the officials said.
Footage on Twitter showed a US Park helicopter landing on the Capitol’s east front, although it was not immediately clear if or how the two events were related.
??A helicopter just landed on the east front of the Capitol. I’ve never seen anything like this before. ever. pic.twitter.com/LxV0mywRSe
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) April 2, 2021
It also appeared that two stretchers had been brought out amid a “large” police presence.
Large police presence and two stretchers being brought out pic.twitter.com/EmidoLP0PT
— Jacqui Heinrich (@JacquiHeinrich) April 2, 2021
It comes as the Washington region remains on edge nearly three months after a group of pro-Trump rally-goers stormed the Capitol as Congress was voting to certify the Electoral College’s votes in favor of Democrat Joe Biden.
Fencing that prevented vehicular traffic near that area was recently removed as the Capitol has started to open up after the Jan. 6 uprising.
Adapted from reporting by the Associated Press
