IL Ruffino
26-05-2006, 16:58
Sounds of gunfire reported in Capitol complex
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Capitol Police said Friday they were investigating reports of sounds of gunfire in the garage of the Rayburn Office Building, where members of the House have their offices.
Law enforcement expert Mike Brooks said he had not heard any reports of victims or physical evidence of gunfire.
He noted that Capitol Police have a firing range in the basement, but a congressional source said the shots were not heard from that level.
Business continued as usual on the Senate side, CNN's Dana Bash said.
The Containment and Emergency Response Team was searching the area, Brooks said. (Capitol area)
CNN's Kelli Arena reported that heavily armed officers were headed to the area.
The alert came moments after a press conference held by Rep. John Sensenbrenner on immigration reform, CNN producer Deidre Walsh said.
"We saw several Capitol Hill police officers running quickly down the hallway," she said. Soon after that an announcement was made throughout the building.
Rep. Peter Hoekstra, R-Michigan, was conducting a House Intelligence Committee hearing at the time.
Hoekstra interrupted a witness to tell those at the hearing to remain in the room and said doors must be closed.
"It's a little unsettling to get a Blackberry message put in front of you that says there's gunfire in the building," he said.
"They said they heard gunfire in the Rayburn garage, but this is a huge building, I'm guessing it's a car backfiring or balloons popping," Gene Smith, chief of staff to Rep. Howard Berman, D-California, told The Associated Press. Berman has an office in Rayburn.
Copyright 2006 CNN. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Associated Press contributed to this report.
http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/05/26/house.shots/index.html
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Oh my..
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Capitol Police said Friday they were investigating reports of sounds of gunfire in the garage of the Rayburn Office Building, where members of the House have their offices.
Law enforcement expert Mike Brooks said he had not heard any reports of victims or physical evidence of gunfire.
He noted that Capitol Police have a firing range in the basement, but a congressional source said the shots were not heard from that level.
Business continued as usual on the Senate side, CNN's Dana Bash said.
The Containment and Emergency Response Team was searching the area, Brooks said. (Capitol area)
CNN's Kelli Arena reported that heavily armed officers were headed to the area.
The alert came moments after a press conference held by Rep. John Sensenbrenner on immigration reform, CNN producer Deidre Walsh said.
"We saw several Capitol Hill police officers running quickly down the hallway," she said. Soon after that an announcement was made throughout the building.
Rep. Peter Hoekstra, R-Michigan, was conducting a House Intelligence Committee hearing at the time.
Hoekstra interrupted a witness to tell those at the hearing to remain in the room and said doors must be closed.
"It's a little unsettling to get a Blackberry message put in front of you that says there's gunfire in the building," he said.
"They said they heard gunfire in the Rayburn garage, but this is a huge building, I'm guessing it's a car backfiring or balloons popping," Gene Smith, chief of staff to Rep. Howard Berman, D-California, told The Associated Press. Berman has an office in Rayburn.
Copyright 2006 CNN. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Associated Press contributed to this report.
http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/05/26/house.shots/index.html
..
Oh my..