U.S. Capitol Briefly Placed On Lockdown Amid Apparent Suicide

By Scott Neuman / NPR

Published April 11, 2015 at 10:49 AM PDT

This story was published more than 9 years ago.

Members of law enforcement and emergency services gather and a perimeter created around the west front of the U.S. Capitol as the U.S. Capitol was on lockdown, Saturday, amid an apparent suicide.

A "precautionary lockdown" of the U.S. Capitol and Capitol Visitor Center has been lifted today after a shot was fired in an apparent suicide, according to police.

"The suspected shooter has been neutralized but the U.S. Capitol Building has been locked down as a precautionary measure," Capitol Police spokeswoman Kimberly Schneider said in a written statement after the shooting, which occurred around 1 p.m. ET.

No one else is believed to have been hurt, The Associated Press says.

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Police also investigated a suspicious package, but there was no indication that it was deemed dangerous.

The Capitol area was reopened just before 4 p.m.

The incident comes amid Washington, D.C.'s annual Cherry Blossom Festival and as lawmakers are set to return Monday following a two-week recess.