By Emily Cochrane, Nicholas Fandos, Adam Goldman and Glenn Thrush
- April 2, 2021
A Capitol Police officer was killed and a second officer was injured after being rammed by a vehicle at the U.S. Capitol on Friday, the acting chief of the Capitol Police said. The suspect was shot and killed.
“The suspect exited the vehicle with a knife in hand” and “lunged” at the officers, said the chief, Yogananda D. Pittman.
At least one of the officers was medevacked to a hospital, according to one of the officials, and a National Guard quick-response team and the local police were on hand at the already heavily fortified complex. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a rapidly unfolding security incident.
It was the most serious security threat at the Capitol complex since the deadly Jan. 6 attack that injured dozens and killed five people.
Around 2:30 p.m., the Capitol Police said that the threat to the building had “been neutralized” and that people could move freely throughout the building, but that no entry or exit was permitted.
The Capitol went into lockdown around 1 p.m., with the police instructing staff to remain indoors, away from doors and windows, and to “seek cover” if they were outside. Images posted on social media appeared to show emergency workers treating someone on the driveway of the Capitol. Later, a blue car could be seen rammed into one of the security barricades outside the Capitol, with the driver’s side door and trunk open.
Constitution Avenue NorthwestConstitution Ave.Road closuresannounced byU.S. Capitol Police.Vehicle attackreported near theU.S. Capitol entrance. Independence Ave.U.S.Capitol
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