- The United States Capitol went on lockdown on Friday afternoon after a car rammed into a barricade.
- Capitol Police confirmed the car hit two officers in front of the barricade.
- One officer died and the other has been hospitalized. The suspect was shot and killed.
- See more stories on Insider’s business page.
A Capitol Police officer died and another was injured after someone rammed a car into a barricade outside the US Capitol building on Friday, acting Capitol police chief Yogananda Pittman said at a press conference.
After hitting the barricade, the suspect “exited the car with a knife in hand” and “lunged” at the officers before one of them opened fire, killing the suspect, she added.
The Capitol went into lockdown earlier Friday after Capitol Police sent out an alert telling people in the complex to stay indoors because of an “external security threat.” Congress was in recess and neither the House nor the Senate were in session.
Videos posted to social media by reporters in the building showed a heavy police presence outside the Capitol. At one point, a helicopter was seen landing on the premises, and the National Guard was also deployed after the incident.
—Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) April 2, 2021
—Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) April 2, 2021
Witnesses reported that a car crashed into the barricade outside the Capitol building shortly after 1 p.m. ET.
A pair of stretchers were also seen by a reporter as first responders arrived on the scene.
For hours, members of the National Guard and armed Capitol Police officers lined a giant perimeter blocking everyone, including reporters, from getting closer.
Tina Sfondeles/Insider
A Capitol Police officer told Insider he was moved from a hard squad to help with the lockdown. He said officers were armed with M4 rifles, in addition to their Glocks. The officer said the lockdown was lengthier than expected as authorities sought more information about the incident.
John Haltiwanger/Insider
The lockdown was lifted at 3:08 p.m. ET. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s deputy chief of staff said she ordered the flags at the Capitol to be flown at half-staff in light of the events.
Capitol police later identified the fallen officer as William “Billy” Evans, a veteran of the department for 18 years.
—U.S. Capitol Police (@CapitolPolice) April 2, 2021
Friday’s incident comes less than three months after hundreds of former President Donald Trump’s supporters stormed the Capitol to interrupt a joint session of Congress that was underway to finalize President Joe Biden’s win. At least five people, including a Capitol Police officer, died during the violent insurrection.