The Pentagon Metro station is closed at this hour after a shooting took place outside the station entrance.
WUSA9 is reporting that Arlington County Fire Department officials have confirmed that three individuals were shot in the incident, and that at least two of them were alert and conscious while being transported to a nearby hospital. One of them was reportedly shot in the leg.
Metro is establishing shuttle bus service around the closure. Expect major delays on the Blue & Yellow Lines this evening.
More as we learn it.
7:50 p.m. Update from WMATA: the Pentagon station remains closed due to the shooting investigation, plus they now say officials are also investigating a suspicious package outside the station. Trains are passing through the station, but are not stopping.
Also, buses are being rerouted around the Pentagon Transit Center. All of those buses are now stopping at the Pentagon City station at South Hayes Street for the time being.
Customers who usually exit the Pentagon station to catch a bus should instead exit at the Pentagon City station and look for their bus along South Hayes Street.
Metro also says that the shooting took place at approximately 6:35 p.m.
8:01 p.m. WTTG/FOX5 says two of the victims were Pentagon Police officers. They also say a suspect is in custody.
8:09 p.m. Alexandria resident Josh Gross tells DCist he arrived at the Pentagon Metro station shortly after the shooting occurred, and that he was prevented from exiting by officials for some time. An announcement over the loudspeaker let Gross and the other people inside the station know that there was a police situation outside. Officials forced the crowd back onto the main platform, then after some time passed, said they could leave “at their own risk.” Those who stayed waited as several trains passed by without stopping. Metro officials eventually arranged for a single train car to stop and open to gather those passengers who remained on the platform.
8:18 p.m. Pentagon police spokesperson Chris Layman confirmed for the AP that two of the victims were Pentagon Police officers. Layman said the third victim was the alleged shooter, and that none of the injuries appear to be life threatening.
8:22 p.m. WMATA has reopened the Pentagon Station and the Pentagon Transit Center. “The Pentagon Transit Center’s upper level bus bays remain closed to allow police to continue their investigation while all buses are servicing the Center from the lower level. The Pentagon Metrorail station’s south entrance also remains closed, however the north entrance is open and trains are servicing the platform again.”
8:36 p.m. The Defense Department has issued a press release:
A shooting incident has occurred at the Pentagon Metro Entrance this evening at approximately 6:40 p.m. EST. Two Pentagon Force Protection Agency (PFPA) officers were injured when an unknown suspect fired at them. The suspect was injured in return fire from the PFPA officers. Injuries to the two PFPA officers do not appear to be life threatening. A suspect is in custody and his condition is unknown. All three injured have been taken to a local hospital. All Pentagon entrances were secured for a brief time but have since been reopened with the exception of the Pentagon Metro entrance. The incident is under investigation. More details will be released when available.
