3-8-2023 (WASHINGTON) The U.S. Senate experienced a tense lockdown on Wednesday afternoon following reports of an “active shooter” in the office buildings. U.S. Capitol Police swiftly responded by initiating an investigation into the matter.
At 2:45 p.m. (1845 GMT), U.S. Capitol Police took to Twitter to inform the public about the situation, stating, “Our officers are searching in and around the Senate office buildings in response to a concerning 911 call. Please stay away from the area as we are still investigating.”
As a precautionary measure, individuals inside the Senate buildings were instructed to shelter in place while law enforcement conducted a thorough search for the suspected shooter. Thankfully, at 4:04 p.m. (2004 GMT), an all-clear announcement was made, indicating that there was no immediate threat. U.S. Capitol Police subsequently expressed their readiness to prepare the Senate office buildings for reopening.
During a press briefing, U.S. Capitol Police Chief Thomas Manger revealed that the 911 call regarding an active shooter may have been a false alarm. At present, there is no confirmation of an actual active shooter situation.
It is worth noting that the Senate is presently in summer recess, with the majority of lawmakers being away from Washington, D.C. Thus, the number of individuals present in the Senate buildings was relatively limited.
