A live stream broadcast shows the scene outside the U.S. Senate office buildings on Wednesday after Capitol Police began evacuating the building following 911 call regarding a potential active shooter earlier this afternoon.
The Capitol Police swarmed Senate buildings Wednesday afternoon and advised people inside to shelter in place because of a report of a possible active shooter before later determining there had been no shooter.
“There is no active shooter and there are no injuries,” Hugh Carew, spokesperson for the DC Metropolitan Police Department told USA TODAY.
‘Concerning 911 call’ triggered police response
The Capitol Police advised everyone inside the Russell Senate Office Building and other Senate offices to stay inside as they investigated the buildings in response to “a concerning 911 call.”
“Please stay away from the area as we are still investigating,” the Capitol Police statement read. “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.”
But Carew later said those reports came from a “bad call.”
Senate staff members and media who work at the Russell Senate Office building received an internal security alert warning them to move inside their office, take emergency equipment and visitors and to “close, lock and stay away from external doors and windows.” The alert advised for them to remain quiet and silence electronics.
Jim Cunningham, an energy consultant, told USA TODAY he was entering the Russell Senate Building to meet with New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand’s staff when he heard a loud noise and look behind. “There was about 20 police with guns drawn and running down behind us.”
This is a developing story.