New York Daily News – by Rachelle Blidner
The U.S. Capitol Building was on lockdown Saturday for 2 1/2 hours after a man killed himself outside, officials said.
The unidentified man shot himself and was “neutralized,” Lt. Kimberly Schneider said in an email to reporters.
The shooter was protesting outside the building with a sign taped to his hand, ABC News reported.
He wore a backpack and had a suitcase nearby, which a bomb squad is investigating.
Authorities lifted the lockdown at around 3:40 p.m., according to officials.
https://twitter.com/madi_patten44/status/586943489310646272
Bridget Maley told the Daily News she and a friend were on a tour of the Capitol when the lockdown began at about 1:20 p.m.
The atmosphere was surprisingly “calm” and her tour continued on as usual, she said. Her guide said the situation “wasn’t exactly unusual.”
“I knew I was in the safest place I could be during an emergency like this,” the 22-year-old University of Maryland student said.
Maley said hundreds of people waited near the gift shops and inside the restaurant.
So I was actually taking a tour in the Capitol while it happened. And we got on lockdown. Crazy to be in the middle of a news story
— ♡bridget (@bridgetvm216) April 11, 2015
They were escorted out through an underground passageway to the Library of Congress and were told to walk on the sidewalk opposite the Capitol, Maley said.
“There are no indications at this point of terrorism,” a federal official told NBC News.
The official said only one shot was fired.
Officials said he was not carrying any form of identification.
https://instagram.com/p/1WAaSHlk-s/
“Another reminder of the dangers US Capitol Police face. I thank them,” Rep. Steve Israel said on Twitter.
Lawmakers have been on spring break for two weeks and are expected back at work Monday.
The area was likely filled with tourists who flocked to D.C. for the annual cherry blossom festival, which kicked off with a parade Saturday.
This story is breaking. Check back for updates.
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/u-s-capitol-lockdown-police-article-1.2181665?cid=bitly
I would like to know what he was protesting…what did the sign that he had say…and was he “neutralized” by his own hand or did he have help Being “neutralized?”
” ” He took out a placard that said something like, ‘Why don’t you tax the 1/4?’ or somthing like that. ” Nandi said. ‘ I was trying to read the placard.”
Other witnesses said the sign said something about taxing the 1 percent, a possible reference to the Occupy movement’s “We are the 99%” slogan used during protests about the distribution of income and wealth. ”
http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/299452321.html
I’d like to see a photo of the actual sign.
Yes, “neutralized” got to me also.
By all accounts, he shot himself.
Thanks, Angel,
I knew it had to be Something that “they” didn’t like. Disgusting!
Very strange how not one “news” article says what was on the sign.