Shooting near US Capitol Building, police cordon off scene

In the early morning of March 29 (Hanoi time), a shooting occurred at the Visitor Center near the US Capitol Building. A man was shot and injured by police and later arrested.

US police cordon off the scene of a shooting at the US Capitol. (Source: AP)

The White House and the US Capitol were locked down for about an hour.Capitol Hill police opened fire on a man after he pulled out a weapon at a security checkpoint, AP news agency reported.

The injured man was taken to a local hospital for surgery, but his condition is unknown. A female tourist suffered minor injuries that are not life-threatening.

Immediately, the White House and the US Capitol Building were locked down for about an hour. The shooting happened at the Capitol Visitor Center at the same time many tourists flocked to Washington to see the cherry blossoms.

Staff working there and visitors were asked to “shelter in place” in their offices. Police also urged people outside the area to seek shelter.

Capitol Police Chief Matthew R. Verderosa said the man was known to police but declined to provide further details. Last year, a man named Larry Dawson was banned from the Capitol grounds after causing a disturbance there, according to the Associated Press.

“We believe this was the work of a single individual who has previously frequented the Capitol Hill area,” Mr. Verderosa said.

The US Congress is on Easter break, but it is now peak tourist season in Washington. The White House and the US Capitol building were reopened after about an hour of lockdown. However, the Visitor Center remains closed for investigation./.

According to Vietnamplus