WASHINGTON, May 26 (Reuters) - The U.S. Capitol was locked down on Friday as police investigated a report of gunfire in the garage of a nearby House of Representatives office building, officials said.
The sounds, which one official said could also have been fireworks or something similar, were reported heard in the garage level of the Rayburn office building for lawmakers. The lockdown barred people from entering or leaving Capitol buildings. Police spokeswoman Kimberly Schneider said there were no reports of injuries and police were continuing to investigate the incident but did not have any evidence of a gunman.
"We have not gotten any reports of anybody being captured, anybody being arrested. We have not identified anybody who may have a weapon on them at this time," Schneider told reporters. However, she added, "Right now we want to err on the side of caution. Lives could be at risk. If we have a gunman in the building we certainly want to find him."
Police were looking at a firing range two floors away from the garage, as well as the entire Rayburn building. Many members of Congress had left Washington, getting an early start on a weeklong congressional recess. The House was not in session and the Senate was winding down.
The sounds, which one official said could also have been fireworks or something similar, were reported heard in the garage level of the Rayburn office building for lawmakers. The lockdown barred people from entering or leaving Capitol buildings. Police spokeswoman Kimberly Schneider said there were no reports of injuries and police were continuing to investigate the incident but did not have any evidence of a gunman.
"We have not gotten any reports of anybody being captured, anybody being arrested. We have not identified anybody who may have a weapon on them at this time," Schneider told reporters. However, she added, "Right now we want to err on the side of caution. Lives could be at risk. If we have a gunman in the building we certainly want to find him."
Police were looking at a firing range two floors away from the garage, as well as the entire Rayburn building. Many members of Congress had left Washington, getting an early start on a weeklong congressional recess. The House was not in session and the Senate was winding down.
