Congress on lockdown after gunshots confirmed in Capitol Hill Visitors Center

Reports of at least one injured as congressional staff remain on Easter recess

By Sophia Tesfaye

Senior Politics Editor

Published March 28, 2016 7:24PM (EDT)

                     (Wikimedia/Eliot.P)
(Wikimedia/Eliot.P)

At least one person was shot on Monday at the U.S. Capitol on Monday afternoon, according to the Associated Press.

One gunman reportedly brandished a firearm at the U.S. Capitol Hill Visitors Center and is now in custody at a local Washington, D.C. hospital. The Vistors Center is a bit removed from the U.S. Capitol building proper. NBC News reports the shooter is the only gun shot victim but there remains conflict reports at this hour.

Congress is currently away on Easter recess but remaining employees have bee told to shelter in place. Monday's lockdown follows a previously scheduled active shooter drill on Capitol Hill early Monday morning.

"We are aware of reports of shots fired and the shelter in place. We are working with the Capitol Hill Police Department to investigate the situation," D.C. Metropolitan Police spokesperson Alice Kim said on Monday afternoon.

At one point, the White House may have also been placed on lockdown following the shooting but Monday's White House press briefing has since continued.


By Sophia Tesfaye

Sophia Tesfaye is Salon's senior editor for news and politics, and resides in Washington, D.C. You can find her on Twitter at @SophiaTesfaye.

MORE FROM Sophia Tesfaye


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