Photo by SpecialKRB

Photo by SpecialKRB

Second update: MedStar Washington Hospital Center says the U.S. Capitol Police officer injured in today’s Capitol Hill incident has been treated and released.

Update: At a 6 p.m. press conference, authorities said the female driver of the car that led police on a chase from the White House to the Capitol is deceased. An approximately one-year-old child was removed from the car and is in “good condition,” according to Metropolitan Police Department Chief Cathy Lanier. The officer injured during the chase, a 23-year veteran of the force, is expected to be OK.

“The security perimeters worked,” Lanier said Thursday evening. “They did exactly what they were supposed to do.”

The car involved in the chase was registered to 34-year-old Miriam Carey of Stamford, Conn., who the Post reports had just finished college.

Original post

A chaotic car chase that began at the White House today ended with shots near the Capitol building, which was locked down for a brief time.

At a news conference, U.S. Capitol Police chief Kim Dine said at 2:18 p.m. a vehicle in the vicinity of the White House attempted to pass a barricade. The Secret Service attempted to stop the vehicle and shots were “potentially” fired, although Dine did not say where.

Video released by Alhurra, a U.S.-based Arabic-language channel funded by Congress, from the White House shows police cornering the black vehicle, which was able to get away. Gunshots can be heard.

The vehicle struck a USCP car at 1st Street and Constitution Avenue NE and crashed at 2nd Street and Maryland Avenue NE. Dine said the scene is secure, and there’s no information indicating that this is related to terrorism. He said it appears to be an isolated incident.


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Dine had no word on condition of the driver and said he believed there was also a child in the car. He said one officer was injured, not by gunfire, and appeared to be conscious and breathing. D.C. Fire and EMS earlier said that one person had been transported to a hospital.

MedStar Washington Center tweeted that they received two patients from “Capitol Hill, including one U.S. Capitol Police officer. No condition updates at this time.”

The Senate Sergeant at Arms first tweeted at 2:30 p.m. that the U.S. Capitol Police were “investigating reports of gunshots on Capitol Hill. If in a #Senate office, shelter in place. If not go to nearest office.” Just after 3 p.m. they tweeted: “Shelter in Place has been lifted. You may exit shelter locations & resume normal activities. Thanks for your cooperation.”

DCist contributor Lynne Venart was at the Capitol when the shots were fired and says she was told to run. She reports hearing several shots when she was by the fountain on the west side of the Capitol. Police then told the group she was with to go toward Independence Avenue.

D.C. Public School “students in schools near the Capitol are safe,” DCPS tweeted. “Spoke with MPD. Schools will dismiss as usual today.” Metro says Union Station is open.

According to the pool report, the “President was briefed on the reports of gunfire on Capitol Hill this afternoon. White House staff are in touch with law enforcement and monitoring the incident.”

Filed Under: capitol, lockdown, shots fired,