Rep. Jared Polis Reports From Capitol After Shots Fired

Out congressman Jared Polis was tweeting and spoke to MSNBC moments after several shots were fired outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., Thursday.

Sunnivie Brydum

Sunnivie is the managing editor of The Advocate, and an award-winning journalist whose passion is covering the politics of equality and elevating the unheard stories of our community. Originally from Colorado, she and her spouse now live in Los Angeles, along with their three fur-children: dogs Luna and Cassie Doodle, and "Meow Button" Tilly.

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Sunnivie Brydum

October 03 2013 3:30 PM EST

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March 11 2017 10:46 PM EST

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Rep. Jared Polis, a gay father and Democrat from Colorado, was one of the first members of Congress to react publicly to the news that as many as four or five shots were fired outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.

Polis spoke by phone to MSNBC, telling the network that he and 15 staffers and guests had locked themselves in his office on Capitol Hill, closing and locking doors and windows, pulling the blinds, and awaiting further instructions from Capitol police. Polis reiterated that he and his colleagues were only slowly obtaining information through emergency alert systems and news reports available inside the office.

At 3:02 p.m. Eastern, Polis tweeted that the situation had indeed been stabilized, and the order to shelter in place had been lifted.

\u201cNew info via txt:\nThe incident requiring staff to shelter in place has been stabilized. Additional information will follow.\u201d
— Jared Polis (@Jared Polis) 1380826968

\u201cNew announcement, we think they are saying: Shelter in place has been cancelled, more information to follow.\nBut there is too much static\u201d
— Jared Polis (@Jared Polis) 1380826708

At 3:04 p.m. Eastern, the Senate sergeant at arms reported that the lockdown had officially been lifted, roughly 40 minutes after the first shots were fired, according to The Washington Post's live blog. The sergeant at arms directed all at the Capitol to "resume normal activities."

Capitol police chief Kim Dine told reporters at a press conference around 3:30 p.m. Eastern that police believe the incident was isolated, and unrelated to any sort of terrorism. Dine confirmed that a black sedan reportedly driven by a female tried to ram a barricade near the White House, then led officers on a high-speed chase down that ended near the Capitol when a uniformed Secret Service officer exchanged gunfire with the vehicle. CNN and NBC both reported that the suspect was killed in the exchange, and that a child was safely recovered from the car, according to USA Today. Dine also said the suspect hit an officer and his squad vehicle with her car. He could not confirm the condition of the victim, but said he believed the injured officer was conscious and breathing.