Police Shoot Armed Man at US Capitol

The massive complex was placed on lock down, but the security precaution has since been lifted.

Police shot an armed man when he tried to enter the US Capitol building’s visitor centre in Washington, officials said.A female bystander suffered minor injuries when police fired at the suspect.

Officials said the suspect was known to Capitol police and ABC News reported that the man had disrupted a House session last year.US Capitol police identified the suspect as 66-year-old Larry Dawson of Tennessee.

In October, he was arrested for interrupting a Congressional session, yelling “prophet of god”.Police said he had been charged with assault with a deadly weapon and assault on a police officer while armed. They said he remains in a “critical but stable condition” in hospital.

Police called the shooting an “isolated” incident, saying there is “no active threat” to the public.Officials originally said a police officer had been hurt, but Capitol Police Chief Matthew Verderosa said no officers were shot.

“There is no reason to believe this is anything more than a criminal act,” Mr Verderosa said.He said the suspect’s vehicle was found on Capitol grounds and the weapon was recovered.

The gunman was undergoing surgery at a hospital and his condition was unknown, Mr Verderosa said.