Police cordon off the U.S. Capitol after shots were fired on Capitol Hill on Oct. 3.
Jewel Samad / AFP - Getty Images
By Michael O'Brien, Pete Williams, Richard Esposito and Tracy Connor, NBC News
The
United States Capitol was placed on lockdown Thursday afternoon after a
woman tried to ram a car into the White House gate, was chased by
Secret Service and exchanged shots with police, sources said.
The
suspect — who sources said had a child in the car — was shot and killed,
and a shelter-in-place order was lifted at about 3 p.m. At least one
Capitol Police officer was injured during the pursuit.
"This appears to be an isolated incident," said Capitol Police Chief Kim Dine. "Both scenes are under control."
The
U.S. Capitol was placed on lockdown following a car chase and shooting
involving a woman who attempted to ram the White House gates.
President Barack Obama was briefed about the harrowing incident, which came in the midst of
the government shutdown that has created a tense atmosphere on Capitol Hill.
It
started at 2:18 p.m. when the woman in a black car tried to breach
White House security at 15th St. and E, law-enforcement sources said.
People take cover as gun shots were heard at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Oct. 3.
Jewel Samad / AFP - Getty Images
She did not get through and was chased at high speeds for about 12 blocks, the sources said.
Her
car hit a Capitol Police vehicle at Second St. and Constitution Ave.
and then crashed into barricades a few blocks away, Dine said.
Law-enforcement sources said she began firing and was shot. The child was reported to be safe.
Her motive was unknown but Dine said there was no reason to think it was an act of terrorism.
Rep.
Gerry Connolly, D-Mass., who was on the balcony talking to his
colleagues, described a "burst" of gunfire from the House side of the
Capitol, towards the House office buildings.
"It was like the first volley in a 21-gun salute," Rep. Matthew Cartwright, D-Penn., told MNSNBC.
Travis
Gilbert, who watched the chase from the roof of the Newseum, said
vehicles involved "had several close encounters with other vehicles
during the case."
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