UPDATE: Reports appear to have been a false alarm, and police have given the all-clear.
The Russell Senate Office Building in DC was evacuated on Wednesday over reports of a possible active shooter.
The Capitol Police have said they do not have any confirmed reports of gunshots, and it appears to have been a false alarm.
“There is no active shooter and there are no injuries,” Hugh Carew, spokesperson for the DC Metropolitan Police Department told USA TODAY.
People being led out of Russell Senate Office Building amid reports of possible active shooter pic.twitter.com/VC4Kpe2Kux
— bryan metzger (@metzgov) August 2, 2023
The Capitol Police announced on social media on Wednesday just before 3 p.m. ET, “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.”
If you are inside the Senate Buildings, everyone inside should be sheltering in place as the report was for a possible active shooter. It should be noted that we do not have any confirmed reports of gunshots.
— The U.S. Capitol Police (@CapitolPolice) August 2, 2023
“If you are inside the Senate Buildings, everyone inside should be sheltering in place as the report was for a possible active shooter,” the Capitol Police tweeted. “It should be noted that we do not have any confirmed reports of gunshots.”
Senate staffers exit Russell Building with their hands in the air. pic.twitter.com/OBhBkyoldz
— Andrew Leyden (@PenguinSix) August 2, 2023
Those in other Senate buildings were told to lock all doors, shelter in place, and remain quiet.
🚨 Police with rifles ran into the Russell Senate Office Building demanding people run down the stairs with their hands up after reports of an active shooter
A LARGE police presence is outside the building, and it remains evacuated pic.twitter.com/RHrcgaG9fg
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) August 2, 2023
“Police with rifles ran into the Russell Senate Office Building demanding people run down the stairs with their hands up after reports of an active shooter A LARGE police presence is outside the building, and it remains evacuated,” independent journalist Nick Sorter tweeted.
Washington, D.C. – Captiol Hill police continue the search of an unconfirmed active shooter in the Russell Senate Office Building, August 2, 2023 – 3:11 PM @EWTNNewsNightly pic.twitter.com/mLqxHOK4BH
— Anthony Peltier (@_anthonypeltier) August 2, 2023
According to a report from NBC News, officers have blocked access to the underground tunnels leading to the Senate office buildings from the main Capitol building.
“An email sent out to congressional staff warned people to move inside their office or the nearest one and to take emergency equipment and visitors,” the report added. “It told people to close, lock and stay away from external doors and windows and to find a place to hide or seek cover if they are in a public space.”
Most lawmakers are not at the offices this week as they are home for August recess.
This is an ongoing and developing situation. This article will be updated as more information becomes available.
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