Capitol Hill Lockdown Lifted: ‘Person Of Interest’ Prompts Lockdown In Washington, D.C.

As seen in the above photo, Capitol police are shown returning to their previous stations on Friday, July 8 at the end of the lockdown that was imposed on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. The emergency lockdown was eventually lifted on Capitol Hill after the U.S. Capitol building and the visitor center went into lockdown mode over a suspicious “person of interest,” as it was initially reported although details about the person were sketchy.

The Capitol police walk past a sign in the above photo stating that no staff-led tours were allowed beyond the point at which the officers were walking.

As reported by the Associated Press, the U.S. Capitol building had been placed in lockdown mode, but the lockdown was lifted after the Senate sergeant-at-arms reported that the “shelter in place” command issued to elected officials and all workers in the buildings had concluded.

Capitol police activity was reported, with authorities at one point reporting that they were hunting for an individual. While police would not give many details about the “person of interest” being hunted, one officer did give additional information about the female being sought by police.

According to an individual officer who was located outside of the Capitol building, police were seeking a woman who might have had a gun after reports came to authorities about such a woman.

One staff worker within the House Democratic leadership reported hearing from the sergeant-at-arms office that a female with a weapon was inside a tunnel that led to the Rayburn House Office Building. According to the Architect of the Capitol, the Rayburn House Office Building was built more than 40 years ago and houses the U.S. House of Representatives.

“The Rayburn House Office Building, completed in early 1965, is the third of three office buildings constructed for the United States House of Representatives. It occupies a site southwest of the Capitol bounded by Independence Avenue, South Capitol Street, C Street S.W., and First Street S.W.”

The reports of the woman with the gun at the U.S. Capitol building not only prompted the lockdown, but it also prompted police to stop anyone from entering the Capitol until the all-clear command was given.

According to the Associated Press, the lockdown was lifted when an announcement via loudspeaker was made at the U.S. Capitol that informed the public that the lockdown had been concluded. At this point, police have not confirmed whether or not the woman with the gun was an actuality or if a person is in custody.

BREAKING: U.S. Capitol no longer in lockdown; loudspeaker announcement on grounds says lockdown concluded.

— The Associated Press (@AP) July 8, 2016

With the Capitol office buildings now open, questions about the lockdown remain. In the midst of the lockdown, members of the House of Representatives met for a short period of time, but they were released right away, according to the House press gallery staff.

The voting that should have begun at 9:15 a.m. on Friday was postponed.

As seen in the above photo, one tunnel from the Capitol Building to the Dirksen Senate Office Building displays the Mississippi state flag along with other American state flags.

Protests around the nation have also taken place near the Capitol, as seen in the above photo. A protester holds up a sign that states “Black Lives Matter” with the Capitol in the background.

Reactions to news that the Capitol was on lockdown status have flowed into social media, with at least one of those comments posted below quipping that the lockdown should have been delayed in order to make political progress occur.

“They should have kept them on lockdown…..Maybe more would get done on Gun Control and Education…..”

[Photo by J. Scott Applewhite/AP Images]