A man crashed his car into a barricade near the U.S. Capitol before shooting and killing himself on Aug. 14, according to the Capitol Police.
The man rammed his car into a barricade at East Capitol Street and Second Street, between the Supreme Court and the Library of Congress, at just after 4 a.m., they said in a statement.
His vehicle “became engulfed in flames” as he was getting out. The man then “fired several shots into the air.”
When police officers heard the gunfire and started approaching the man, he fatally shot himself. Police reported no other injuries.
No officers appeared to have fired their weapons, nor did it appear that any member of Congress was the target, according to police. Both chambers are in recess and aren’t scheduled to return until mid-September.
The Capitol Police are investigating the man’s background, while the city’s Metropolitan Police Department is handling the investigation into his death.
Previous Incidents
In June, Capitol Police arrested a man with a fake badge, body armor, and a BB gun outside the Capitol building. The individual was identified as 53-year-old Jerome Felipe, a resident of Flint, Michigan, and a former New York police officer.According to police, Felipe parked his car near the U.S. Capitol and presented officers with a fake badge with the writing, “Department of the INTERPOL,” printed on its front, referring to the International Criminal Police Organization. He also made what was described as a false statement that he was a criminal investigator for INTERPOL.
“Felipe gave officers permission to search his vehicle,” the Capital Police stated. “The officers discovered a BB gun, two ballistic vests, several high capacity magazines, and other ammunition in the car.”
No real guns were found inside the vehicle.
In April 2021, a man drove into a barricade at an access checkpoint to the Capitol complex, killing William Evans, an 18-year veteran police officer. Another officer sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was released from the hospital after being treated.
The suspect was identified as 25-year-old Noah Green, who allegedly exited the vehicle and began charging toward police officers with a knife. At least one of the officers fired their weapon, killing the suspect.
In his social media posts, Green proclaimed to be a follower of the Nation of Islam, a black nationalist group known for its anti-white and anti-Semitic rhetoric. Nation of Islam later confirmed that Noah Green had been donating to it and was studying to become a full member.
