Man shot by police after drawing weapon at Capitol

WASHINGTON -- Police shot a man Monday after he pulled a weapon at a U.S. Capitol checkpoint as spring tourists thronged Washington, authorities said. The suspect was known to police.

The suspect in Monday's incident was taken to a hospital, and a female bystander also sustained injuries that were not life-threatening.

The U.S. Capitol was on lockdown for about an hour, and the White House also was locked down briefly. As the capital teemed with spring tourists in town to view the cherry blossoms, staff members and visitors to the Capitol were rushed into offices and told to shelter in place.

"We do believe this is an act of a single person who has frequented the Capitol grounds before, and there is no reason to believe that this is anything more than a criminal act," Capitol Chief of Police Matthew R. Verderosa said. He said it was unclear how many officers fired their guns. Initial reports had said an officer was injured, but that proved to be wrong.

Verderosa said the suspect's vehicle had been found on Capitol grounds and was being seized. He declined to identify the suspect.

The event unfolded with Congress on recess and lawmakers back in their districts. House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., issued a statement thanking Capitol Police, as did other congressional leaders.

"This evening our thoughts and prayers are with all those who faced danger today," Ryan said.

The Capitol Visitors Center where the shooting occurred remained closed into the evening as the incident was being investigated.

The Capitol itself and nearby office buildings had reopened.

Visitors were turned away from the Capitol in the aftermath of the shooting as emergency vehicles flooded the street and the plaza on the building's eastern side.

Police, some carrying long guns, cordoned off the streets immediately around the building.

Earlier in the day, officials conducted an unrelated shelter-in-place drill at the Capitol.