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All clear given a few minutes ago.
NPR's David Welna reports he was escorted to House cloakroom with other reporters.
Welna spoke with Rep. Gerry Connolly, who told him that he was out on a balcony and heard multiple shots.
Connolly told him that he had been informed by Capitol Police that a single gunman had been apprehended, and that one Capitol Police officer was injured.
The Senate Sergeant at Arms, Terrance Grainer, says "there are reports of injuries."
"Gunshots have been reported on Capitol Hill requiring all occupants in all House Office Buildings to shelter in place," police said in a email to staffers. "Close, lock and stay away from external doors and windows."
A Capitol Police officer was reportedly injured Thursday afternoon as shots were fired near the Hart Senate Office building, forcing a "shelter in place" lockdown in both houses of Congress. By 3 p.m. ET, Capitol Police said they had lifted the lockdown.
The Senate Sergeant at Arms, Terrance Gainer, says "there are reports of injuries."
Police swarm around car on grass near the U.S. Capitol on Thursday. The suspect's black Infiniti is shown in the background.
Alex Wong/Getty Images
A woman who reportedly tried to ram a security barrier outside the White House led Capitol Police on a high-speed chase that ended near Capitol Hill, where gunshots were fired by police and lawmakers were briefly ordered to shelter in place. By 3 p.m. ET, police had lifted the lockdown.
Capitol Police Chief Kim Dine told The Associated Press that the driver was in custody, but the details of her condition and the condition of a child that may also have been in the car with her, were not immediately known.
The incident appears to have started with a car chase that began near the White House complex and ended with the shots at the Capitol, NPR's Mara Liasson reports.
The Associated Press, quoting a law enforcement official, said the vehicle "tried to ram a security barricade at the White House." The news agency says the driver then "proceeded down Pennsylvania Ave. toward Capitol Hill, where shots were fired."
Witnesses report that 20 police cars were involved in the chase of the woman's black Lexus.
Chief Dine, speaking to reporters at about 3:40 p.m. ET, said the scene had been secured and that there was no reason to think the incident was anything other than isolated and not connected to terrorism.
Asked whether the driver of the car was a woman, Dane replied: "We believe so." He said "We believe there was a child in the car."
He said the injured officer "was struck in his vehicle" and that he "appears to be conscious and breathing," but he gave no further details on his condition.
NPR's David Welna, who was at the House cloakroom with other reporters, when the incident took place, spoke with Rep. Gerry Connolly, who told him that he was out on a balcony and heard multiple shots.
Connolly told him that he had been informed by Capitol Police that a single gunman had been apprehended, and that one Capitol Police officer was injured.
"The President was briefed on the reports of gunfire on Capitol Hill this afternoon. White House staff are in touch with law enforcement and monitoring the incident," A White House official told reporters.
"Several senators were outside the Capitol when they reported between four and six shots fired. Police officers in a high-speed chase pulled over a black car in front of one of the Senate office buildings, but witnesses said a man fled on foot with a gun visible.
'I heard a pop-pop-pop, and we were told to get down,' said Senator Bob Casey, Democrat of Pennsylvania.
Senator Sherrod Brown, Democrat of Ohio, said he saw people in the area drop to the ground, and Capitol police officers yelled for him, Mr. Casey and Senators Jeff Merkley of Oregon, Roger Wicker of Mississippi and Bernie Sanders of Vermont to lie on the ground."
The AP says:
"As a warning was sounded, the House abruptly went into recess and lawmakers left the chamber floor. The House had just finished approving legislation aimed at partly lifting the government shutdown by paying National Guard and Reserve members.
People standing outside the Supreme Court across the street from Congress were hurried into the court building by authorities.
The White House was quickly locked down after the incident at Capitol Hill and the stretch of Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the compound was closed to pedestrians. Secret Service said the procedures were precautionary."
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/10/03/228884405/u-s-capitol-on-edge-after-reports-of-gun-shots
