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U.S. Capitol Shooting Suspect Identified as Larry Russell Dawson, Was Known to Authorities

Update, 5:20 p.m. ETAccording to CNN, the male suspect has been identified as Larry Russell Dawson. The 66-year-old is from Antioch, Tennessee, and according to AP, was issued a “stay away order” by D.C. Superior Court after disrupting congress in October 2015.

Update, 5:10 p.m. ET: During a press conference on Monday afternoon, U.S. Capitol Police Chief Matthew Verderosa confirmed that police shot at a male suspect after he pulled out a weapon at the Capitol Visitor Center. The alleged suspect, who has yet to be named and is currently in surgery at a nearby hospital, is known to police from previous incidents, Verderosa said.

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According to the Chief, the suspect attempted to go through the metal detectors at the center and, when stopped by security, he drew what looked like a weapon and was then shot by police.

During the press conference, law enforcement officials confirmed that the female bystander who was injured by shrapnel has only minor injuries, and that the incident is not considered a terrorist attack. 

Original story continues below:

The U.S. Capitol and White House were placed on a brief lockdown on Monday, March 28, after reports of gunshots at the Visitors Center at the Capitol Complex.

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According to the Associated Press, the shooter has been taken into custody. There have also been conflicting reports that an officer was shot, with the AP reporting that he was not seriously injured. According to NBC News, he was not shot, but may have been injured by shrapnel. CNN reports that a female bystander was also injured by shrapnel. 

U.S. Capitol
U.S. Capitol

The lockdown has since been lifted.

Congressional staffers were instructed to shelter in place, lock doors and move to assigned shelter areas. Staffers outdoors were told to “seek cover away from the area.”

“We are aware of reports of shots fired and the shelter in place. We are working with the Capitol Hill Police Department to investigate the situation,” D.C. Metropolitan Police spokesperson Alice Kim initially told CNN.

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Monday also marks the White House’s 138th annual Easter Egg Roll.

Updates to come. 

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