DC-Cannon House Bldg on lockdown-MSNBC [Update: gun was plastic]

MSNBC | 10/30/03 | MSNBC

[Diddle E. Squat]

Searching for a lone gunman

[TexKat]

Thanks Howlin for the ping.

A U.S. House of Representatives office building was shut down on October 30, 2003 by Capitol police, who said they received a report that a person with a gun may have breached security. 'We have information that someone with a gun made an unauthorized entrance into the Cannon office building,' U.S. Capitol Police spokeswoman Jessica Gissubel told a local NBC affiliate. The man was possibly carrying a .38 caliber pistol, she said. The Canon House Office Building is seen in this undated file photo. Photo by Reuters

Gun Scare Closes House Office Building

By MARY DALRYMPLE, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - Two people, one believed to be carrying a gun, breached security in a Capitol Hill office building Thursday, forcing an extraordinary shutdown of the House of Representatives.

"Someone with a gun made an unauthorized entrance into the Cannon Office Building," said Jessica Gissubel, spokeswoman for the U.S. Capitol Police.

Rep. Bob Ney, R-Ohio, chairman of the House Administration Committee, said that at about 1:20 p.m. EST an individual went through the metal detector and put a bag that looked like a bookbag on the conveyor belt at the security checkpoint.

Ney said police saw an object that looked like a revolver in the bag, but before they could stop the suspect grabbed the bag and ran.

They pursued the suspect and lost the person, he said, and the building was evacuated, he said. Entrances to connecting office buildings, the Capitol and the Library of Congress were shut down.

Though the suspect was initially described as male, Rep. John Larson, D-Conn., later said it wasn't clear whether the suspect was a male or a female.

Howard Bauleke, chief of staff to Rep. Dennis Moore, D-Kan. Bauleke said the Capitol police came in and said they were looking for a man carrying a backpack.

Initially, Capitol police advised people to stay in their offices. A few minutes later, the building was evacuated. Staffers and congressmen poured out of the building, and dozens lingered on the building's steps.

Meanwhile, authorities closed roads and a bus stop near the Pentagon Thursday while they investigated a suspicious truck parked nearby, military spokesman said.

[Semper Paratus]

V"20 something female, long brown hair, pink shirt and khakis."

Isnt that one of the dixie chicks? Or Natalie dyed her hair.

Or Al Franken after "Exteme Makeover".

[Mo1]

Why isn't there some provision made at the checkpoints for restraining someone who attempts to get in with a weapon?

I guess they are afraid they might hurt someone

[vox humana]

They said police saw an object that looked like a revolver in the bag, but before they could stop the suspect grabbed the bag and ran.They pursued the suspect and lost the person, he said, and the building was evacuated, he said.

*** CLASSIC ***

Some of those security people are so overweight, they would be sucking air after 50 feet.

[abigailsmybaby]

One of those brainwashed in our public schools and overly liberal secondary schools.

[No Blue States]

I agree completely.
WTH do they think their main purpose is?!!
Security guards need to be able to shoot straight and run fast, And tackle like in the NFL in short order.

[camle]

ho jeez! theres 295's, 395's and 495's. you can't escape them resistence is futile! if yer not careful I-395 will getcha!!!

[mhking]

In the DC area, if you take I395 north, you'll wind up smack dab in the middle of Anacostia.

Wrong, Anacostia-breath, that's 295 that goes to Anacostia, not 395.

[wimpycat]

One of those brainwashed in our public schools and overly liberal secondary schools.

Brainwashing causes pink shirt and khaki pant combos?

[Major_Risktaker]

NEW CAPITOL HILL FLAT BED SCANNING MACHINE WORKS!

[mewzilla]

I guess they are afraid they might hurt someone

Guess that's not part of the job description.

[July 4th]

It's too bad this had to happen right now. It's just giving the national evening news an excuse to not lead with the 7.2% economic growth story.

[ElkGroveDan]

Live on MSNBC - looking for a 5' 3" 130 lb man brown haired with suspected 38 caliber gun, avoided security in chase, is believed loose in bldg.

It was probably a 6' 2" Arab with a beard wearing a turban and leading a camel, but that would be insensitive so they changed the description to a short white guy.

[Republic]

Hope it isn't one of the pink ladies--met up with them while holding up an I Support our Troops and our President sign in front of the White House this earlier this year! Those people are truly strange. Give new meaning to the term, 'steel magnolias'.

[theFIRMbss]

>Staffers and congressmen poured out of the building, and dozens lingered on the building's steps.

I'm sure cops took steps
so the perps couldn't sneak out
with the "staffers," right?!

[nuffsenuff]

Um.. I395 North runs into I295.

They intersect IN Anacostia. Trust me. I've driven the route numerous times. My wife used to work at PGC Hospital.

[mewzilla]

It's too bad this had to happen right now. It's just giving the national evening news an excuse to not lead with the 7.2% economic growth story.

Now I really, really wanna know where Daschle is...

[dakine]

Doesn't 295 meet 395 right over the Anacostia river, I drove that route for 5 years when working at the the Pentagon...

[hankbrown]

I'm sure cops took steps so the perps couldn't sneak out with the "staffers," right?!

Officer Barbie from South Park?

[mhking]

Um.. I395 North runs into I295.

I-395 turns north through the tunnels under the mall and ends at NY Ave. northwest of Union Station. I used to drive that route every day (worked in Alexandria, lived in NW DC).