An attempt to ram a barricade near the White House today led to gunfire on Capitol Hill before a female suspect was shot dead following a car chase.
Shots were fired at 2pm (ET) on Thursday with one police officer injured. Officers were seen swarming the scene with machine guns as hundreds of staffers and tourists fled in terror or took shelter in the political heart of Washington D.C.
The female suspect was shot dead, according to multiple sources, but police would not confirm her condition. She is believed to be 33 or 34 years old.
A child, aged around 18 months, was rescued from the car uninjured following the police chase with the driver a luxury, black Nissan Infiniti.
Scroll down for breaking news coverage and video of car chase
Officer Down: What appears to be a male police officer is stretchered away from the scene of the shooting at the Capitol in Washington D.C. today
Luxury Car: Police swarm around the Nissan Infiniti car on grass near the U.S. Capitol October 3, 2013 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC
Treatment: Capitol Hill police and medics take a shooting victim away on a stretcher at the site of a shooting October 3, 2013 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.
Fleeing: People run for cover as police converge to the site of a shooting October 3, 2013 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. The US Capitol was placed on security lockdown Thursday after shots were fired outside the complex
High alert: A man runs for cover as a police officer takes a shooting position on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC today
A source said that the incident began around 2.15pm when the suspect sped away from a White House checkpoint after refusing demands to turn around.
She crashed into a police car and injured an officer before hitting the barricade.
No shots were believed to have been fired from the car, according to CNN. A police officer shot the driver before finding the child inside the car.
The scenes at the White House and the Capitol building are now secure in what is believed to have been an isolated incident. No officers were shot, authorities said in a news conference at 3.30pm.
President Obama, who was taking part in an engagement in Maryland, has been briefed on the incident.
Run For Cover: Seen from the US Capitol, tourists flee as Capitol Police are seen outside of the Senate side of the Capitol Building on October 3, 2013 in Washington, DC
Armed: A policeman runs after shots fired were reported near 2nd Street NW and Constitution Avenue on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on October 3, 2013
No Chances: Members of the U.S. Secret Service counter assult team patrols the grounds of the White House October 3, 2013 in Washington, DC.
Impact: Rescue personnel stand around a smashed U.S. Capitol Hill Police vehicle following a shooting near the U.S. Capitol in Washington, October 3, 2013
Wreck: Police officers attend to an injured police officer after shooting near the Capitol in Washington, DC, on October 3, 2013. A volley of shots rang out outside the US Capitol building on Thursday
A damaged US Capitol police car is seen following a car chase and reported shooting incident, on Capitol Hill in Washington DC, USA, 03 October 2013
The shooting took place on Pennsylvania Avenue, the route which the President typically walks after inauguration.
As the alert was raised across Capitol Hill at 2.25pm, the House quickly took recess and lawmakers left chamber floor. The Senate immediately suspended business.
A police car was totaled following the car chase in downtown DC as officers took up shooting position around Capitol buildings. It is believed the pursued car has Connecticut plates.
An injured officer was seen being stretchered from the scene before being taken by helicopter for treatment.
Fighting Force: An armed unit makes it's way to the U.S. Capitol following a shooting in Washington October 3, 2013. The Capitol was in lockdown on Thursday
Armed Agents: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents patrol the area after gunshots were fired outside the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, October 3, 2013
'Shots fired': The U.S. Capitol was on lock down on Thursday afternoon at 2pm (ET) after reports of shots fired in downtown DC
Protect: A U.S. Capitol police officer lies on the steps of the Senate with a gun drawn in response to a report of shots fired Thursday, Oct. 3, 2012
Emergency personal help an injured person after a shooting on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Oct. 3, 2013. Police say the U.S. Capitol has been put on a security lockdown amid reports of possible shots fired outside the building
Vehicle: Visible in the top left of the picture is a black vehicle that was reportedly used by the suspect during the deadly car chase today in Washington D.C.
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An order was issued to take shelter on the complex or at the US Supreme Court building.
Police were securing the area after tourists were reportedly 'told to run'. People standing outside the Supreme Court across the street from Congress were hurried into the court building by authorities.
A lock down was lifted around 30 minutes after being put in place.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who was preparing to do an interview with CNN, told the news outlet that he has heard of one injury.
Destroyed: Law enforcement personnel gather around a police vehicle that was involved in an incident with another vehicle on Constitution Avenue outside the U.S. Capitol October 3, 2013
Armed for A U.S. Capitol Police officer stands guard following a shooting near the U.S. Capitol in Washington, October 3, 2013. The Capitol was in lockdown on Thursday
Terror: People take cover as gun shots are heard at the Capitol in Washington, DC, on October 3, 2013. The US Capitol was placed on security lockdown
Response: Police react on Capitol Hill October 3, 2013 in Washington, DC, after shots fired were reported near 2nd Street NW and Constitution Avenue on Capitol Hill
Ready: Secret Service agents in uniform lock down the North Lawn and entrances to the White House, after reports of a shooting at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, October 3, 2013
All Precautions Taken: A member of the US Secret Service looks out toward Lafayette Park from the roof of the White House in Washington, DC, October 3, 2013, following reports of a shooting at the US Capitol
Lockdown: A member of the Capitol Police dons a protective vest in the basement of the US Capitol following reports of a shooting on October 3, 2013 in Washington, DC
Rush: Police run at the corner of Constitution and First Street next to a wrecked police car after shots fired were reported near 2nd Street NW and Constitution Avenue on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC
Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo) told MSNBC: 'We’ve locked the doors. We closed the window shades. And we are awaiting further instructions.
'We’re more or less cut off here. We’re watching TV and just trying to figure out what happened.'
The shooting comes just two weeks after a shooting spree at the DC Navy Yard by a mentally deranged former naval employee.
The incident left 12 dead and the gunman who was killed in a shootout with police.
A U.S. Park Police helicopter is loaded on the Mall in Washington, Thursday, Oct. 3, 2013, with a victim from a shooting. Police say the U.S. Capitol
Utter Panic: U.S. Capitol police respond to reports of shots fired at the U.S. Capitol. October 3, 2013 in Washington, DC
Source: Daily Mail
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