Person shoots self dead near US Capitol, sparking lockdown

Congress is out of session this week, so few lawmakers were in town.

By REUTERS
Bird's-eye view of the Capitol (photo credit: ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL)
Bird's-eye view of the Capitol
(photo credit: ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL)
WASHINGTON - A person shot him or herself dead near the US Capitol on Saturday, sparking a security lockdown at the complex, US Capitol police said.
Police were also investigating a suspicious package on the lower west terrace of the Capitol building in Washington, and several nearby streets were closed. Several media reports said it was luggage left by the person.
Police said the lockdown was a precautionary measure.
"There are no indications at this point of terrorism," a US official told NBC News.
"The Capitol has been locked down because of the potential security threat. No one can enter or exit," Capitol Police spokeswoman Kimberly Schneider said in a statement.
"Confirmed: self-inflicted gunshot by neutralized subject," she added shortly afterward.
She did not say if the person was a man or a woman.
The incident occurred on a Saturday and Congress is out of session this week, so few lawmakers were in town. But the city was crowded with tourists visiting for the popular annual Cherry Blossom festival.