{"id":107545,"date":"2015-04-12T06:49:14","date_gmt":"2015-04-12T06:49:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/4cd.e16.myftpupload.com\/?p=107545"},"modified":"2015-04-12T06:49:14","modified_gmt":"2015-04-12T06:49:14","slug":"gunmans-suicide-shuts-capitol-hill","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citifmonline.com\/2015\/04\/gunmans-suicide-shuts-capitol-hill\/","title":{"rendered":"Gunman’s suicide shuts Capitol Hill"},"content":{"rendered":"
The US Capitol in Washington DC was in lockdown for nearly two hours after a gunman shot himself outside the building on Saturday afternoon.<\/p>\n
Police took the security measure after shots were heard near the seat of the US Congress.<\/p>\n
Police also investigated a suspicious package, thought to be the gunman’s suitcase, on the lower west terrace of the Capitol building.<\/p>\n
Congress is not in session so there were few lawmakers about.<\/p>\n
However, the annual Cherry Blossom festival and sunshine attracted tourists.<\/p>\n
Those inside the building were reportedly told to stay there and visitors outside to take cover.<\/p>\n
“Confirmed: self-inflicted gunshot by neutralized subject,” Capital Police spokeswoman Kimberly Schneider said in a statement.<\/p>\n
There appears to have been no sign of terrorist intent, according to police.<\/p>\n
Nearby streets were cordoned off as an investigation continued.<\/p>\n
It was the latest in a series of security incidents in Washington DC in recent years.<\/p>\n
In 2013, a woman tried to drive her car past a security gate at the White House. She was shot dead in the subsequent car chase.<\/p>\n