U.S. Capitol Reopens After Shooting; Suspect in Police Custody

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Capitol Police said Monday they have a suspect in custody after a shooting at the Capitol Visitor Center.

Police in Washington, D.C., said in a tweet that it was an “isolated incident at the US Capitol. There is no active threat to the public.”

The shooting shut down the Capitol briefly on Monday. Police told visitors and staff to shelter in place and immediately close, lock and stay away from doors as police investigated.

“Due to police activity, Capitol Police have issued a shelter in place for the Capitol complex. Please stay in your designated area,” the Senate sergeant at arms said in a tweet.

Shortly before 4 p.m. EDT, the Capitol reopened.

Though House and Senate lawmakers are away on recess, the Capitol remains a popular draw for tourists and school groups visiting during spring at the peak of cherry blossom season.

The visitors center is a vast underground complex beneath the Capitol, where visitors line up for tours. The multilevel space includes a cafeteria, gift shops and official meeting rooms for lawmakers. Many press conferences are held there.

Those visiting the Capitol must go through metal-detector screening as they enter the visitors center, but lines often form outside the complex.

A Secret Service spokesman denied a separate report Monday of fence jumper at the White House. He said the White House was not on lockdown.

“Due to ongoing law enforcement activities at the U.S. Capitol Building, as a routine precautionary measure, the U.S. Secret Service had temporarily closed the North and South fence lines of the White House Complex,” a U.S. Secret Service spokesman said.

The closures have since been lifted, and pedestrians are again free to walk along the north and south perimeters of the White House grounds.

Copyright 2016 Tribune Co.

Tribune News Service