Photo by ‘ Toshio ‘

WTOP was the first to take to Twitter with the news that the Capitol was put on lockdown following a report of a man carrying a gun on a bus heading down Independence Avenue. WTOP was also the first to report that the news was a false alarm and that the man on the bus was a Metropolitan Police Department officer.

In fact, the Capitol was placed on lockdown by Capitol Police at approximately 3:15 p.m. With assistance from Park Police and MPD, Capitol Police then performed a search of all Capitol campus buildings and the grounds. U.S. Capitol Police Public Information Officer Sergeant Kimberly Schneider said that the lockdown was lifted after Capitol Police gave the all-clear at 3:45 p.m.

According to Metro’s media relations office, the report was issued with regard to a Metro Transit Police officer traveling on a bus at an intersection near the Capitol. It is unclear who called in the report or whether the officer was on duty at the time.