UPDATED 5:40 p.m. ET: Hours after a general lockdown of the U.S. Capitol building and the Capitol Building Visitor Center, authorities lifted the lockdown on the area at around 5 p.m. ET, according to the AP.
The report confirms that the shooter died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, and was carrying a backpack and rolling suitcase. According to reports from one eyewitness, the man was holding a sign protesting taxes, just before pulling the trigger.
UPDATED 3:18 p.m. ET
U.S. Capitol Police confirmed to Mashable that a shooter on the west front of the Capitol building grounds in Washington, D.C. was "neutralized" Saturday afternoon following an apparent suicide attempt, and that a precautionary lockdown of the area was enforced.
The suspected shooter had a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to police. It's unclear whether the man is dead. No one else is believed to be hurt.
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The locked-down areas include the Capitol building and the Capitol Building Visitor Center. No one at this time is being allowed to enter or exit those buildings. Reports of the shooting began surfacing after 1 p.m. ET, with one person claiming to have witnessed the shooting first-hand.
The police spokesperson added that officers are investigating a suspicious package found on the low west terrace of the Capitol building.
Due to a police incident, the Capitol and CVC are currently on lock down. #alerts— SenateSergeantAtArms (@SenateSAA) April 11, 2015
BREAKING: Someone just shot themself on the steps of the US Capitol during the height of Cherry Blossom festival. Capitol is on lockdown.— Tom Risen (@TomRisen) April 11, 2015
Shelter in place at the #USCapitol. pic.twitter.com/oOKjvKehDa— Terry Camp (@terrycamp12) April 11, 2015
U.S Capitol building is currently on lockdown per witnesses on the scene. More to come.— Emmanuelle Saliba (@_esaliba) April 11, 2015
ALERT: The U.S. Capitol is on lockdown due to police activity, according to Dianez Smith, a building service coordinator.— WTOP (@WTOP) April 11, 2015
Congress has been on spring break for two weeks, and lawmakers are set to return to work Monday.
This story is developing…
Additional reporting by The Associated Press