Senate Active Shooter Call: Threat Sparks Lockdown of Capitol Buildings

U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) are investigating a reported active shooter situation on Capitol Hill after authorities received an emergency call about a gunman.

"Our officers are searching in and around the Senate Office Buildings in response to a concerning 911 call," Capitol Police said on Wednesday. "Please stay away from the area as we are still investigating. We will continue to communicate with the public here."

USCP re-opened all Senate office buildings at 4:17 p.m. ET after clearing all buildings.

"There is no active threat at this time," USCP said.

Video posted to social media showed several law enforcement vehicles driving towards the Capitol and people being led out of the Russell Senate Office Building by police.

A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police Department had told Politico that the evacuation was the result of "a bad call" and that "no injuries and no shooter were located." Capitol Police confirmed that no shooter was located.

Those working in Senate buildings were ordered to move inside immediately, lock all doors and windows, shelter in place and remain quiet until further instruction.

"If you are inside the Senate Buildings, everyone inside should be sheltering in place as the report was for a possible active shooter. It should be noted that we do not have any confirmed reports of gunshots," Capitol Police alerted in their initial tweet. "If you are in the area, follow the directions of our officers."

The Senate is currently on summer recess, so the majority of congressional lawmakers were not on the premises.

Capitol Police and the Sergeant-at-Arms have been gearing up preparation for such incidents. Last week, authorities testified at an oversight hearing that they had been running more active shooter drills and training in and around Capitol buildings to improve response.

Capitol Police Chief J. Thomas Manager also announced that USCP would open regional offices across the country in response to the 300 percent increase in threats to members of Congress over the last seven years. Those locations include an office in Texas, Milwaukee and Boston. The department opened its first field offices in Florida and California after the January 6 Capitol riot.

"We need to do a better job at protecting members when they're home, their families," Manger said before lawmakers. "We've got to make sure that we've got security measures in place in home district offices, in homes, so that it raises everybody's level of security.".

Update 08/02/23 3:30 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.

Update 08/02/23 3:46 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.

Update 08/02/23 4:11 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.