Man kills self after ramming Capitol barrier

The unidentified driver opens fire after striking the barricade, police say. Congress was not in session.

WASHINGTON — A man drove his car into a barricade near the U. S. Capitol early Sunday and began f iring gunshots in the air before fatally shooting himself, police said.

The incident happened just before 4 a. m. at a vehicle barricade on the east side of the Capitol.

It comes at a time when law enforcement authorities across the country are facing an increasing number of threats and federal officials have warned about the potential for violent attacks on government buildings in the days since the FBI’s search of former President Trump’s Mar- a- Lago estate in Florida.

The attack is reminiscent of an incident when a man drove a vehicle into two Capitol Police officers at a checkpoint in April 2021, killing an 18- year veteran of the department.

Many on Capitol Hill remain on edge since supporters of the then- president stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

Authorities said the man, whose identity has not been released, crashed into the barricade, and as he was getting out of the car it became engulfed in f lames. The man then opened f ire, shooting several times into the air as police approached.

Capitol Police said the man shot himself as the officers neared. He was later pronounced dead.

Capitol Police said that “it does not appear the man was targeting any member of Congress,” and that investigators are examining the man’s background to discern a motive.

The House and Senate are in recess and very few staff members work in the Capitol complex at that hour.

Authorities said no other injuries were reported, and police did not believe any officers had returned fire.