Man shoots, kills self near US Capitol

WASHINGTON (AFP) — A man holding a protest sign shot and killed himself Saturday near the steps of the US Capitol at the height of tourism season in Washington, triggering a brief lockdown of the congressional building.

Police said the man had a “social justice” protest sign with him when he produced a weapon and shot himself on the western side of the building in the afternoon.

US Capitol Police Chief Kim Dine said no shots were fired by police. His force investigated a backpack and case the man had with him before reopening the legislative building and its visitor center.

Dine said the shooting was not terrorism-related, declining to comment further on the man’s identity or his motive pending an investigation.

The FBI, Secret Service and local police are investigating the shooting.

“We potentially know who he is but obviously we have to secure that and verify it,” Dine said.

Washington is in the middle of one of its peak tourism seasons as visitors flock to view the city’s famous cherry blossoms.

Groups of tourists milled around the police tape closing off a large area filled with emergency response vehicles.

The shooting took place just after 1 p.m. (1700 GMT) and the lockdown ended nearly three hours later.

The entrance for tourists is on the opposite side of the building from where the shooting occurred, but visitors frequently walk across much of the Capitol grounds.

Several visitors tweeted about seeing the shooting.

“Just ran from the capital building after a protester shot himself right next to us,” tweeted one visitor.

Another wrote: “Just witnessed someone shoot themselves at the US Capitol.. Whole place is on lockdown.”

Most of the city’s downtown area was not impacted by the shooting that closed the Capitol.