On August 2, 2023, police and emergency personnel were present near the Russell Senate Office Building in Washington, DC, amidst reports of an active shooter near the US Capitol, although these reports were unconfirmed.
Credit: Saul Loeb | AFP | Getty Images
A Senate office building in the Capitol was reopened after a thorough search by Capitol Police, revealing no suspicious activity or persons of interest, as stated by the House Sergeant at Arms.
This decision was made after the Metropolitan Police Department informed CNBC that the report of an active shooter at a Senate office building seemed to be unfounded.
During a later press conference, U.S. Capitol Police Chief Thomas Manger suggested that this call may have been a false alarm.
Prior to 3 p.m., the U.S. Capitol Police ordered people inside Senate office buildings to shelter-in-place while responding to a possible active shooter situation.
The USCP tweeted that their officers were conducting searches in and around the buildings in response to a concerning 911 call. However, they clarified that reports of gunshots had not been confirmed.
Following an unconfirmed report of an active shooter, staff members from the U.S. Senate were evacuated under police supervision, resulting in a lockdown of office buildings on Capitol Hill on August 2, 2023.
Credit: Jonathan Ernst | Reuters
According to NBC News, evacuations were observed from the Russell Senate Office Building, one of the Senate buildings along Constitution Avenue, at around 3 p.m.
Though the USCP’s shelter-in-place order was still in effect at around 4 p.m., individuals inside the buildings were allowed to leave if they wished.
Chief Manger stated that “nothing concerning” had been found so far.
The original report received by the Metropolitan Police Department described a “heavyset Hispanic male wearing body armor” as the active shooter in the Hart Senate Office Building. However, no one has come forward to confirm this sighting, and attempts to reach the original caller have been unsuccessful.
Individuals were seen exiting the Russell Senate Office Building in Washington, DC, on August 2, 2023, with their hands raised, following unconfirmed reports of an active shooter near the US Capitol.
Credit: Saul Loeb | AFP | Getty Images
At 4:04 p.m., the USCP tweeted: “All buildings have been cleared at this time. The buildings have not been reopened.”
The MPD stated that they were providing assistance to the Capitol Police.
Both the House and Senate are currently on recess until September.
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