WOMAN SHOT BY POLICE AFTER TRYING TO RAM WHITE HOUSE GATES BEFORE FLEEING ACROSS WASHINGTON
An attempt to ram a barricade near the White House today led to gunfire on Capitol Hill before a female suspect was reportedly shot dead following a car chase.In a news conference at 3.30pm, authorities said that a vehicle struck a police car before ramming a White House barricade. The scenes at the White House and the Capitol building are now secure in what is believed to have been an isolated incident. No officers were shot, according to police. President Obama, who was taking part in an engagement in Maryland, has been briefed on the incident. The shooting took place on Pennsylvania Avenue, the route which the President typically walks after auguration. As the alert was raised across Capitol Hill, the House quickly took recess and lawmakers left chamber floor. The Senate immediately suspended business. A police car was totaled following the car chase in downtown DC as officers took up shooting position around Capitol buildings. It is believed the pursued car has Connecticut plates. One officer was seen being stretchered from the scene before being taken by helicopter for treatment.
An order was issued to take shelter on the complex or at the US Supreme Court building. Police were securing the area after tourists were reportedly 'told to run'. People standing outside the Supreme Court across the street from Congress were hurried into the court building by authorities. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who was preparing to do an interview with CNN, told the news outlet that he has heard of one injury. Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.) told MSNBC: 'We’ve locked the doors. We closed the window shades. And we are awaiting further instructions. 'We’re more or less cut off here. We’re watching TV and just trying to figure out what happened.' The shooting comes just two weeks after a shooting spree at the DC Navy Yard by a mentally deranged former naval employee. The incident left 12 dead and the gunman who was killed in a shootout with police.
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