Gunshots, Suicide Roil East Capitol Street Sunday Morning
WASHINGTON — A Delaware man drove his car into the vehicle barricade at East Capitol Street and Second Street early Sunday morning, firing several shots into the air before turning his weapon on himself.
The man has been identified as 29-year-old Richard A. York III. It is still not clear why he chose to drive to the Capitol Complex.
According to a press release from the U.S. Capitol Police, the incident took place just after 4 a.m. Sunday morning.
The authorities say the car became engulfed in flames as the man was getting out of the car, and he then proceeded to fire several shots into the air along East Capitol Street.
Officers responded to the sounds of gunfire and were approaching the man when he shot himself. No one else was hurt during the incident.
“At this time, it does not appear the man was targeting any Members of Congress, who are on recess, and it does not appear officers fired their weapons,” the Capitol Police said.
An investigation into the man’s background is ongoing.
DC’s Metropolitan Police Department is handling the death investigation.
The incident occurred just a week after the Capitol Police conducted an active shooter training drill inside the Cannon House Office Building. In May the department did a similar exercise on the Senate side of the campus.
