Suspect shot, in custody after drawing weapon at Capitol complex, officials say

close

Video

Suspect in Capitol Hill shooting was known to authorities

Former detective Rod Wheeler provides insight

A gunman was shot by Capitol Police Monday afternoon and later taken into custody, officials said, after drawing a weapon on officers at the tourist-heavy U.S. Capitol Visitor Center – an incident that sent the Capitol complex and the White House into lockdown.

U.S. Capitol Police Chief Matthew Verderosa said one bystander was injured, though apparently not severely, in the incident.

Speaking to reporters, Verderosa also corrected initial reports that a U.S. Capitol Police officer had been shot. The police chief said “no officers were injured.”

“There is no reason to believe that this is anything more than a criminal act,” he said.

The chief’s brief comments helped bring some measure of clarity to the confusion on Capitol Hill, two hours after reports first surfaced of shots being fired – all occurring a week after the Brussels terror attack put major cities around the world on high alert.

The chief said the suspect was transported to the hospital and is undergoing surgery. “His condition is unknown at this time,” he said.

Fox News is told the suspect has been identified as Larry Dawson. Officials said he is known to law enforcement, and Verderosa said he’s frequented the Capitol grounds before.

Capitol Police later identified the suspect as Dawson. He was charged with assault with a deadly weapon and assault on a police officer while armed.

Dawson, 56, of Antioch, Tenn., was arrested in October following an outburst in the House chamber, and a stay-away order was issued, officials told Fox News.

A bench warrant was issued for his arrest after he was to return to court in November, but did not show up. In January, Dawson wrote the Court a letter in which he claimed to be exempt from laws because he is a prophet of God.

Dawson was taken to a local hospital, and a female bystander also sustained non-life-threatening injuries.

The suspect’s vehicle, which was discovered nearby, is now being searched.

It’s unclear whether any shots were fired by the suspect himself during the confrontation at the visitor center, or whether they were only fired by officers on the scene.

Verderosa did not explain how the unidentified bystander was injured, but described those injuries as “minor.”

Fox News is told the incident started when the suspect set off a metal detector. Verderosa confirmed Monday afternoon that the suspect “drew what appeared to be a weapon and pointed it at officers,” after which at least one officer fired on him and struck him.

Fox News is told the FBI responded, and there do not appear to be any threats to other parts of the city. Fox News is told there was a single shooter.

Congress was not in session Monday, but the city is teeming with tourists in Washington for the cherry blossoms and on spring break.

Diane Bilo, a visiting tourist from Cincinnati, told reporters her husband was inside the building when the shooting happened. She read a text she received from her husband that said “it sounded like a full clip.”

Jay Blaskey, from Los Angeles, said he was in a theater at the CVC when a group of people were ushered into the room; they said the shooting took place at another theater within the center, he said.

While details are still forthcoming, the incident sent the Capitol Complex into a tight lockdown.

The U.S. Capitol Visitor Center will reopen Tuesday morning.

The White House also was briefly put on lockdown because of the incident.

At the same time of the Capitol Hill incident, a woman was arrested at the White House after she attempted to move a temporary security barrier while attending the Easter Egg Roll.

Security officials however stressed to Fox News that while the arrested happened at the same time as the shooting, there was no relation between the two.

FoxNews.com's Joseph Weber and Fox News' Chad Pergram, Catherine Herridge, Matthew Dean and James Rosen, and The Associated Press contributed to this report.