Transcripts For FOXNEWSW Shepard Smith Reporting 20160328

Attention and that would have capitol hill and the white house on lockdown, suggests to us that for the moment theyre taking the reports of shots fired actually now from the Associated Press we now have clarity. Capitol police now report, capitol officials report one Capitol Police officer has been shot, is not seriously injured and the shooter is in custody. Theres no way to know in the early going, when reports like this come, in especially in washington, whether the reports of shots fired might be something falling off the back of a truck or somebody dropping something in a crowded stairwell, but in this case we can now confirm through the Associated Press, not from fox news, but through the Associated Press, one Capitol Police officer has been shot, not seriously wounded, and the shooter is in custody. This is citing information now from the sergeant at arms. Between, this just coming to us on the fox news deck. From a sergeant at arms officer, Police Officer wound is not serious. So, as far as we know what happened so far is there were reports of a shooting or shots fired at the Visitor Center on capitol hill. A police where people come to begin a place where people start the process to start visiting the capitol, not within the capitol itself. We got reports of shots being fired but didnt know exactly what had happened, and frankly, at this moment we cant give you clarity. I can just tell you that capitol hill is on lockdown, white house has said as we are seeing on room 237 the white house was briefly placed on lockdown and may still be. Chad is our producer on capitol hill, and is live there now. Chad, what too you know . Reporter theres not much. Seems to be a lot of chaos here, and frankly, its ramped up also, the level of the chaos, because there was a drill this morning for the u. S. Capitol done during the congressional recess for this exact same scenario. There was an active Shooter Drill for the u. S. Capitol. This appears to be near the capitol Visitor Center. They built the center to accommodate large groups of crowds that come through the capital each day, and this is outside the capital. Its connected underground, theres tunnels that connect the buildings and this appears to happen outside. I youre coming on a general tour or, some you go through security. You have to pass through metal detectors and all of that. And so thats why this is confusing that this happened, happen outside of that area . Thats what were trying to get. I should tell you that this is spring break, the Cherry Blossoms are in full bloom, turned out to be a very Beautiful Day here in washington after some rain. When i was walking back and forth across the capitol complex this morning after the rain fell, there were throngs of people inside the building here on spring break and whatnot, and so thats contributed to this level of some degree of panic, people here in washington, werent here all the time. We go through these scenarios every so often so we are trying to get word to see how severe this is or anybody injured. We can report now through the Associated Press, and multiple other sources, that one officer has been shot but the good news is that the wounds are not serious, certainly nothing critical. Sounds in the early reporting like this is superficial wounds but certainly we have from multiple sources now the capitol Officials Say the Capitol Police officer has been shot but is not seriously wounded and the good news there is appears to be but one shooter and that shooter were now told is in custody. For viewer regular viewers you notice my hesitation at the top because of this drill that was happening this morning, we were hopeful they had conflated that drill with the with what is happening now, but that is not the case, and i mention this is at the capitol Visitor Center. This is not the capitol itself but the newest addition to the capitol complex. It is an enormous place 5. Hundred 80,000 square feet. Its the largest project in the capitols more than two century history, and is approximately threequarters the size of the capitol itself, so it is very large. The entire facility is located underground, on the east end of the capitol so the idea was so it not distract from the appearance of the capitol but they needed this Visitor Center. It opened in december of 2008, and today has been chad said, were not exactly sure exactly where this happened, but they know that there has been a Police Officer a Capitol Police officer wounded. Chad, its not clear to me whether this was inside the tunnels or outside. Reporter its hard to teal. Ive had conversations with people bet the security of the building. Youre a regular visitor or staff you go through a metal detector. Anyway have had a number of incidents where they have had staff mistakenly bring their firearms into the building. There are some corners before they started to ramp up some of these security provisions that they wondered things people might have inside the building already. Now, i dont want to go too far down that but you can imagine how that keeps the Security Officials up late at night. I should note here, talk about an officer being shot, if this is a superficial wound and thats why i was hesitant to report this because we had the drill this morning, and my initial presumption, because they told us they were going to the drills, this was another version of that. I should tell you, though, we had two capitol hill Police Officers killed in july of 1998. This was before they had the capitol Visitor Center and this was brought to bear partly because of the shooting, you had a fellow with enemy illness, never stood trial to this day, who came into an entrance on the house side, the memorial door now, the doorway where the house leadership, the speak expaul ryan, nancy pelosi, others come and go into the building, because they didnt have a Visitor Center and they were trying to make this more accessible to people and more secure, but russell westin, jr. Walked up to the building, he had mental issues and shot and killed the guard at the door, and at the time just around the door from that was the office of then the House Majority whip, them tom delay. A member of his security staff couple out and exchanged gunfire with westin and mortally saved bill frist, so to this day those are the only two people ever killed defending the u. S. Capitol on this grounds. We now know, this is on the east end of the capitol complex, which is where the Visitor Center is. Thats between the library of congress and the Supreme Court so you have a cordoned off area between the library of congress and the Supreme Court, and there are two recessed tunnels that kind of go out down into the ground, where you would go through security. Once you get to the edge of the capitol Visitor Center. Nobody being allowed into or out of the building at the moment, as expected, during a lockdown. You have even with a staff badge they arent letting anyone in or out. The initial reporting is this. Shots were reported fired at the capitol complex Visitor Center in washington. This is an animation that we already have of inside the Visitor Center. This isnt actual video but animation we have. This is file for us, not something we produced in the last couple of minutes. Im getting more reporting on the condition of the officer. Every indication im getting is these were minor wounds so we have reports of shots fired. Then we have reports of minor wounds to a Police Officer, and, quote, shooter in custody. Who the shooter is, what this persons idea was, we dont know, but i can tell you that there has been no indication that nip else was hurt, that this shooter threatened anyone else. We just dont yet know the circumstances surrounding this. I want to tell you what we know for certainty. For certain right now we know that people inside the capitol come mix itself, as you might imagine, hundreds or thousands of people working in there for people who are there, theyve been told to shelter in place, in other words if youre in an office, stay in an office. If youre in a restaurant or some other facility, stale in that facility. Development try to come and go not allowing anyone into or out of, out of an abundance of caution. Only one Person Injured we know of, said to be a Capitol Police officer, who has minor injuries, described by one as superficial injuries. Nobody has suggested this anything more than minor injuries to one Capitol Police officer and immediately the multiple reports suggest the shooter is in custody. He White House Briefing was going on at the time and it continued. Reporters asked about the reports. They have mobile connections in there and the white house officials are saying i have been standing here the whole time. I dont know anything. A senior u. S. Official has just thats regarding another matter Capitol Police are the speaker system says shots fired at capitol Visitor Center. This is an announcement going off now. U. S. Capitol police are locking down the entire u. S. Complex due to what is being called a potential security threat. No one allowed to enter or exit the buildings. Theyre told they may move about within the building and underground between the buildings. If theyre outside theyre told to seek covers. So reports from all over the capitol about exactly what were learning, and the long and short of it is, that apparently the shooting itself was not serious, but anytime there is a shooting inside the capitol complex, it is a very serious situation. You see people moving in and about this is outside on pennsylvania avenue. You know where our comers correspondents normally stand with a live picture with the white house behind them. They have pointed the camera left, and on a bright, sunny day, the Cherry Blossoms blooming in washington, its the height of tourist season, so now that the sun has come out after a dreary morning there are people moving about on pennsylvania avenue. Thats not locked down. The description of the white house on lockdown, that would be for my experience a formality, and the opening moment. Anytime shots fired anywhere they would put things on lockdown, just out of an abundance of caution. Theres one shooter lets listen. Track the mic. The level of [inaudible] where did the shots come from . I dont know. [inaudible] i want to give you this is brand new now from Associated Press. U. S. Capitol Police Officer was shot monday at the capitol visit juror center complex, and the shooter was taken into custody, according to capitol officials and police. The event unfolded with congress on reassess and lawmakers back home in the districts. It occurred in the Visitor Center of the sprawling capitol complex, staffers, reporters and others were told, to quote, shelter in place, and not allowed to leave their offices. The white house and capitol complex were put on lockdown, that would be standard procedure. The Police Officer who was shot was not believed to be seriously injured. Capitol police are not immediately returning calls to the Associated Press, which has been our experience here at Fox News Channel as well. The latest well know is the outside the capitol, we have a number of staffers who are outside now. Expected during the lockdown situation, theyre not letting you move around, even with a badge. Still the White House Briefing continues. Josh earnest was asked about this at the capitol on the north lawn lockdown but was unable to answer anything, noting he had been there the whole time. It appears what we have is an isolated incident on the east end of the capitol complex. Were showing you pictures of that now. Now live pictures outside. It appears to be just this simple. Things can change certainly with new information but the information we have now suggests one shooter, one victim. That was a Police Officer who was not badly hurt at all, according to all reports we have received here, though i cant independently confirm it. All reports indicate that the Police Officer who was shot is not seriously injured at all, and that the gunman, whoever he me a for that matter she may have been is now in custody. This is from Capitol Police and Security Officials there on capitol hill. The lockdown does continue. The best of my knowledge at this moment. But aside from that, we have no reason to believe there is any danger to anyone else, either in the capitol complex, at the white house, anywhere in between, or anywhere else. We dont have any description of this person with a gun thus far, except to say this person, whoever he or she is, is now in custody out. Copal hill capitol hill grew is on the ground. Shelter in place remains in effect as of 30 seconds ago and remain in place. I would suspect would for the foreseeable future, at least until we can get some clarity. The initial reporting is simple. One shooter, one victim, Police Officer, not badly hurt, and the one shooter taken into custody. Is there more . Not that we know of. Catherine herridge is on capitol hill. Reporter i had a call 10, 12 minutes ago from a staffer on lockdown, what they described to me was a situation where they were leaving the Ford Office Building for the Ford Office Building would be one of the staff buildings the furthest away from the capitol visitor complex, a 20minute walk. Theyre trying to leave the building and the Police Rushed to the doors and told them to get back inside, and to shelter in place and stay away from the doors and also the windows. There was some confusion because they understood there was a drill earlier today on the hill. I dont have that independently but they said the police were not acting aviation it was a drill. The last few minutes i received a copy of the notice that has been sent out by one of the security directors for the congressional committees, and im just going to read you. I. I update. Shooter is down and on the way to the hospital. One individual was hit by shrapnel and is being taken to the hospital. Incident occurred on the north cvc, the capitol Visitor Center screening area so we both know, reading in between the lines, the incident happened at the choke point with security, coming into the Visitor Center where individuals are screened. Im a little puzzled by the choice of words here. Shrapnel . Not sure what to make of that at this point, whether this was bullet shrapnel or something else. The security notice that has gone out is shooter is downing are on the way to the hospital. One individual hit by shrapnel and occurred at the screening at the north capitol Visitor Center area. I have a little more clarity on that. The tourist whose husband was inside the visit juror center said it sound like, and i quote, whole clip went off. Media standing out here across the street from the capitol just spoke with a woman who is visiting from cincinnati. She just left the Russell Senate Office Building to get galley passes and her husband was inside the Visitor Center with her children. Her name is dianne bilo. She read a text from her husband that said he heard shots from the Visitor Center, his tex said it sound like the clip of a handgun emptied. Its an area, immemory doesnt fail, where echos would be would be resounding. Youd see its a big place. Reporter right. It would be hard to know in that part of the Visitor Center, as you have exactly pointed out, from just the sound itself, what exactly had gone down, but what is not in question is the direction from the Capitol Hill Police to staffers, a building which is a good distance from the capitol to shelter in place and now this security notice indicating that it took place, as i would call it, one the security chokepoints so when people are in tight and coming through. Again, im a little puzzled by the word shrapnel but thats the word they used, and just got a little bit more here from a chad pergram, ore senior produce Oregon Capitol hill, says u. S. Capitol police are continuing to lock down the entire capitol complex due to shots fired. No one will be allowed to exit or enter. You may move within the building, so thats for the staffers, and underground between build little but if youre outside, seek cover. So at least from the last message, this is still an ongoing situation. Heres what i have. You mentioned shooter was down, frankly, the fact that the shooter had, it appears, was taken down, not just taken into custody but taken down, is new information to us. The shooter is down and on the way to the hospital. One individual was hit by shrapnel and being taken to the hospital. Reporter this is the security notice. That individual, were now told and have confirmed is a capitol hill Police Officers. We have still picture of the Police Officer with automatic weapons posted at third and madison. And i showed you video of that just a moment ago. Catherine, anytime there is a shooting of any kind on capitol hill, why lock things down out of abundance of caution. Reporter of course. They whoa, but everything is being seen through the prism of the last ten days. Right . Everything is being seen through that. And we dont have any information yet about who the shooter was, and what their motivation was, but im sure this is true in new york city as well, everyone is a little keyed up right now. Right . No question. Reporter for obvious reasons and the other element you cant ignore is that since last tuesday, in brussels, theres been what i would describe as isis likes to flood the air waves after an even like that, to kind of capitalize on the event, and in the last 24 to 48 hours there have been several messages specifically about the United States. Im not saying theyre connect because we dont have that kind of information, but people are pretty keyed up. Right . And this is one of the first boxes theyre going to want to check when they know more about the individual, their motivation and what brought them to the capitol today, and whether theres anyone else operating with them. Right . Catherine, thank you. 20 minutes past in washington the lockup continues fouch viewers joining us there has been a shooting at the capitol Visitor Center complex, not the capitol itself. Lawmakers are in recess and not in washington, largely speaking. Somebody fired shots at the entrance to the Security Checkpoint at the visitor senator, at least one tourist told us that multiple shots fire, Police Confirm that one officer was shot, though not seriously injured. The shooter himself or herself has been taken into custody. Beyond that we have no description. James rosen is live on capitol hill. James . Reporter good afternoon. Just to add to what you have already been reporting, an eye witness to this incident tells our fox news team, our senate producer and our foxnews. Com writer, joe weber, that this incident occurred at the end of a tour at the capitol Visitor Center, that she herself was located on the bottom floor of the capitol Visitor Center and the shots seemed to be. Coming from a floor above and sound like, quoteunquote, a full clip had been extended and were not in position to verify this but that multiple injuries would have been sustained. Possibly included to children. As of now, all we do have confirmed, as you have been reporting, shep, is the injury to one Capitol Police officer. Reportedly not lifethreatening. As of right now, as you mentioned, the capitol remains on lockdown. That notice went tout Capitol Employees shortly before 2 45 p. M. Eastern time. Only recently was another alert sent out by the police to the staffer saying this was due, to quote, shots fired. Note the use of the plural, shots fired. At this moment we here in the newsed in mead ya are media are being blocked off from the entire complex. This is a very fluid situation. Many details still yet to emerge. James, thank you. A number of our employees, editorial and technical employees, we have more than 100, many more than 100 people who work there and they sort of position themselves around the place. Some various reports, firsthand report from our own people, one saying Armored Vehicles going by. The scene you see live now on your screen. This is from james rosens camera with the number of police. Said to be the case all around the capitol complex now. From the producer, martin finn, the office over the sergeant at arms would not talk to the press but when asked whether this is over, a representative said, no, not yet. Now, that is not to say the shooting is not over because its a very vague statement. I take it to believe, until further notice, theyre talk about the lockdownis underway. These those are partitions that come up in road and restrict travel. Sometimes theyre up or down, depending on who needs to pass but able to bring these stop barriers up when matters like this are hand or when dignitaries are moving around and those barricades are up. The shelter in place remained in the capitol complex and at the Visitor Center. You can see media are moving about as are Police Officers. Generally theyre just a state of high alert at the moment. Consider what has happened this afternoon, from all reporting, someone with a gun at the Visitor Center there, around the security cordon, fired off a number of shots. I dont know how many chad pergram, is our main man on capitol hill, our lead producer, and is with us. Something further, chad . Reporter yeah. Im standing on constitution avenue here which has been shut off. This is on the senate side. And ive been able to get up further where the other folks were closed off but there was an ambulance that just arrived at the foot of capitol hill a few minutes ago. The waved it through. Up constitution avenue, between the capitol and the russell building. Again, i would only presume this is to deal with someone who is injured, whether it be the officer or the person wielding to the gun here. But we are told that the situation is under control, theres no longer a threat and there was a single shooter who was shot by Law Enforcement. You see thats always the problem. The sources i talk to regular by, theyll tell you that the capitol complex is secure. The debate is what goes on out. Terry gainer the former u. S. Capitol police and the former sergeant at arm has long advocated pushing back the perimeter so you clear security a couple blocks away from the capitol so when you go in, youre free to roam around. Anything can carry anything around and thats where people worry the threat could be. We dont know the circumstance but this happened outside, and seven, anybody can come around with a weapon or what have you. We had a fellow seven or eight years ago who had a car pulled up at the edge of the capitol, packed with explosives and other things and was caught by u. S. Capitol police cutting through the Russell Senate park with a shotgun who said he had an appointment with chief justice john roberts. They nailed him. Again they nailed himself nailed him because he had a shutgun. Updating, u. S. Capitol police after shot at the capitol visitor complex and the shooter was taken into custody. It unfolded with congress on recess and lawmakers back anywhere district. The white house was brave lit put on lockdown but we can confirm the lockdown has been lifted. Further, fox is told the situation is under control, there is no longer a threat of any kind. Were told there was a single shooter who was shot by Law Enforcement. We do not have word on the perpetrators status other than he is in custody. Chad pergram reporting it appears they have taken him to a anybody hospital. The Police Officer who was shot is not seriously injured. Witnesses tell us, to the we knock directly confirm a number of shots were fired. The vague official reporting from Law Enforcement was that shots were fired, and now witnesses telling us that one one witness in particular saying it sounded like a whole clip went off, and thats a quote. Fox is told the fbi is responding to to capitol Visitor Center, standard operating procedure, there does not teen be any threat to any other part of the city. What youre seeing is a routine, we better make sure, because this is the capitol, and what chad pergram was referring to just a moment ago, appears to me to be a developing narrative. And that is, what do you do outside security . If security starts to be a target, then what do you due . I can take you back week ago tomorrow, to brussels, where outside the security cordon, at the police where you lace where you go to get check for Airport Security, the two. The brothers who used to run a bar, who blew themselves up, one at a subway station and one at the airport, plus another at the airport, and they did so outside the security cordon. Now, in washington today, separately, completely unrelated but following the narrative, outside of the security cor don, outside of the security at the u. S. Capitol visitor complex. The early reporting is that somebody fired at least a shot. We believe multiple shots. And a Police Officer was shot. Again, this was outside the security cordon. What sort of tactic does you they can . When i was reporting in brussels last and from london this was a large topic of discussion, what do we do about Airport Security, outside the security cord don in north africa and eastern europe, russia, you cant get to Airport Security without first being checked off the property. The airport in tel aviv would be another one, where Security Checks begin as you drive up other. Airports in the region in pakistan and other areas in north africa, your cars are check before you ever get to the building. Then before you go into the building itself, your luggage is scanned by bombdetecting facility and all the rest. The question is, seems to be percolating now, where do you a reporter from abc 7, our Network News Service affiliate in washington where exactly do you set the cutoff . And then no matter where you set the cutoff, the people at security would be in danger. A live look on capitol hill. Cars are being allowed to come and go and thats the extent of it. Heres the headline. Shots were fired at the Visitor Center at the capitol complex. One Police Officer injured, though not seriously. The shooter taken into custody, and now a lockdown or atley shelter in place order across the capom complexion and the white house has now been lifted. Now the conversation. What more do we need to do if anything about security and how much farther back should we take it . Our coverage of breaking news continues in three minutes. Im Shepard Smith in new york. This is Fox News Channel. Its 3 30 on the east coast, 12 30 on the west coast. This is continuing coverage of breaking news from the u. S. Capitol. You can see everybody is on his or her phone as our live view streams in and out and abc 7 is reporting live there the long and short of the situation is that somebody has fired shots and a Police Officer has been hurt. What we dont know is who is the shooter, who is the Police Officer, what was the motivation of the shooter, and exactly where did this shooting take place . We know it was outside, outside the security cordon there at least thats the early reporting. After the early report of gunfire, d. C. Police now confirm to fox news and others, including the Washington Post, there is no longer a threat on capitol hill. Why you probably are asking do they still have the security cor don up . Well, theyll act out of an abundance of caution, waiting to get all of their ducks in order just to make sure of everything. We have opinion with a want Hospital Center who could not immediately confirm to fox news that the washington report the Washington Post report that the capitol gunman was on his way there. We have reports that the shooter himself was, quote, taken down, unquote. This does not normally mean they were tackled and brought into custody in handcuffs. Normally that sort of vernacular indicates the shooter himself or herself was shot by authorities or somebody else. Its a nogun zone there, obviously so anybody armed in area would have been security personnel. We have been looking live at the white house as well and throughout the capitol complex where everything this is the white house there was a solid lockdown on, you see on the east side there the area where the reporters enter and the main entrance at the top. This is the location from which hour or ther do live broadcasts for you, on updateses from the meeting room. Today is our look at the white house as the lockdown at the white house has been taken at least has been removed, because every report that we now have from throughout washington and all the Different Services there, the Law Enforcement services, is that the immediate danger has passed. Up sos to us as if it was a very quick matter indeed. Reports of shots fired, simultaneously reports of a gunman taken into custody. Now with further clarity, it appears to us, it appears to us that the shooter has been taken down or shot and the shooter is off to a hospital, in addition the person the person who was shot the Capitol Police officer not seriously wounded but i presume there are indications atley that the officer will be taken to a hospital for conditions checked. We have been going with reporters reports from chad per fram, our lead producer on capitol hill, with our Catherine Herridge who has been working sources there, and our james rosen, who is up on capitol hill. Chad, anything to add . Very. Reporter yes, the ambulance that i referred is to now coming down constitution avenue to the edge of capitol hill, with lights and sirens. Not going with any particular speed, accompanied bay pumper engine from d. C. Fire but they dont look like theyre rushing to the hospital. I wonder if they called that ambulance because they thought they had other casualties. I confirmed through a senior capitol hill source here, we have one in custody, one officer slightly wounded, and [inaudible] mentioned you were in brussels, the senior capitol hill Officials Say they changed the posture here at the capitol. They were concerned and they said were going to have an optics situation, people out with los long guns and one soure said the idea to try to [inaudible] do something they might see the extra cordon, and then decide better. We have also been told that tourists who are visiting the capitol on standard tours, they were sheltering in place inside the capitol and are now being released. Im still on this side of constitution avenue here and they still have this kind of you can see the throng of people coming down capitol hill now. Obviously tourists who were in the building. [inaudible] recess, people here from chad, thanks. Apologies for the bad connection there, its a little windy and. A tweet has come in from the police, an isolated incident at the u. S. Capitol center there is no active threat to the pock. The lockdowns continue. Shannon bream at the main desk in d. C. Its a busy day. This is prime tourist season here in d. C. There are throngs of middle school, high school, field trip groups here from all over the plies, you see kids here and you hope they can keep it together. Not highly unusual to have security alerts but this this worst possible time of year because there are hundreds of thousands of extra people who are here around the capitol, theyre touring, theyre no these buildings, visiting members, going todoor as you know along the National Mall, the smithsonian lines the wall and on the back side of the Visitor Center, that feeds to the u. S. Supreme court. There will arguments there this morning. We expect the justices there are in the afternoon in the building, still working on things. The court is fully staffed but it, because it late literally because its a stones throw away was on lockdown as well. Going down the National Mall its very crowded. The weather is beautiful. You get to the Washington Monument and the Cherry Blossoms which have attracted huge crowds, theyre fullfully bloom. There are tour buses everywhere. So it is a situation in which people probably needed a lot of guidance and reassurance today. Were hearing good news, sounds like, as far as con tining and getting the situation wrapped up. I have been pinging with staffers saying they remained on lockdown until few minutes ago. Things were quiet. Didnt know what was going on. They were getting basic information but staying lock held in their offices and you think about the staffer ands the extra people here in washington on a very busy day. It is really magnet season for drawing people their town so see everything, and certainly rattling those who are filling the streets right now. Shannon, this is america is not a 100 safe place, that thats something we all know. Anything can happen at any location. This was outside security so its not as if somebody breached security. That did not happen. The congress is not session at this moment. Authorities tell this is no danger to anyone, at least based on the incident which we have already seen, and we really dont have a profile on the shooter at all. Ive not gotten confirmation of the sex of the chuter, shootr and we dont know his or her motivation or background, whether he or she was in some sort of domestic situation or we just dont know. You can see the throng of tourists on the move here. They were initially told at the Visitor Center to be on lockdown, and then to just shelter in place. Now they have clearly allowed them to move along. If you can put that up there. I want to listen to the interview. A live interview. More important to get out than actually worry about that. What happened . We were here lobbying, going through the Visitor Center security, and as i walked through we heard, get out, get out, active shooter, and so i ran out and we were relocated in the building. The Police Escorted us. When you start evidence to talk about i hear it yes, anxiety producing. Stressful things in my life. What went through your mind when you hear, active sheet are, get out, get out. Its pretty sobering for sure. Im sure people that love you, that care about you, newell you would be here today and that you would be in the capitol. Are you fielding calls. My phone is still in the building so i cant field any calls. Im hoping to do that soon. Maybe spun someone elses phone a live isline from wjla. We appreciate it. These first comments from people coming out are worth listening to without question. If need to do that. We need to continue to have life as usual. I think we should what was the response when they were telling you, get out, get out . Were they herding grow one direction. Screaming, get out, get out, trying to keep us safe. They were loud and pushing us out and we were concerned the shooter was outside. The guns were drawn. They were out making sure we were safe but it was pretty how many people in the Visitor Center when this happened . I dont know. The Visitor Center probably about 20 people in the security line. The line just start evidence moving right as the shooter was called. So maybe about 20 people. Did you sense a swell that something was going on before the shouting began no. We all started scattering when he heard it. We ran out and got out of the building. Whats going through your mind, on the other site of the bare kid and youre safe and the gunman in custody. My biggest concern is getting my stuff back. Just that im safe and i need to that live lets finish it. Its breaking up a little bit. Again, our thanks to wjla, abc 7, for the washington, dc area. The rules are we can listen to their reporting, their enter are you from subjects but we dont take the report from their reporters. There is a lot going on in washington right now, and there is a lot of confusion. I want to lay out what we have confirmed and that is that theres more going on now. What we know is that outside the capitol complex, near the Visitor Center, there were reports of shots fired. Then a shooter taken into custody, after a Police Officer was shot. There were official reports, official reports, of shrapnel hitting this officer. We could only assume in the early going that the word might have been used a little improperly or something, but i cant really make that jump until unless and until we get something specific, but witnesses there on scene have toll us that they believed, quote, sounds like a clip was emptied. Thats the end of the quote. But there are multiple reports of multiple shots fire at that location there oar things going on at the white house. We have gotten reports in the early going that the white house was put on lockdown. That is absolutely standard operating procedure. If there are shots fired on the capitol complex, doesnt matter what is going on at the white house you. Lock it down because you dont know theres no way to know with certainty that nothing else is happening. If theres one weird thing going on, like shots fired you lock the whole thing down you keep it locked down until you figure it out. And thats what theyve done. They came to the quick determination that there was but one incident happening, and that was one person, man or woman dont yet know with a weapon. That person fired shots. A Police Officer hit. The best of the reporting have at this moment is, after that happened, the was shot by somebody, and taken into custody. Immediately after that person was taken into custody, that person was, from all reports, taken to a hospital. The Police Officer treated for his or her wounds, and we move on. But i mentioned the white house was also placed on lockdown. During that it was brave lockup by all accounts. But the white house was certainly put on lockdown. Keep in mind, congress was not in session at the time. Congress is on recess. Presumably most members of congress and the senate and the house are back home in their district. This is spring break time and they get back here from constituents and get their political house in order and whatever it is but theyre not on capitol hill. The vast majority of them. Its a quiet time in washington except its spring break and cherry blossom. The very peak of blooming of the Cherry Blossoms is over the weekend and now. Though the morning was imperfect its a spectacularly Beautiful Day there and by the thousands and i guest tens of thousands of tourists ailing over the complex there as the Cherry Blossoms are among the most spectacular things you can see. The entire city smells like a forest, and if theres a better time visit, dont know what it is. A lot of kids there, students, who are on spring break, some there with their families, but enormous groups of kids come on class trips. Many of you may have made the trip, and for so many spring break is a time you do that. Imagine the chaos created the middle of a situation like this, this sprawl 57 50 00 square fight underground Visitor Center i mentioned earlier, dianne bilo, a witness from cincinnati, stat outside the visitor senator with one of her children this afternoon, waiting word from her husband and other two children who were inside. I report on that just a short time ago. We we have her on the phone. Are you there . Hi, yes, i am. Thanks so much for the information, and i wonder if you could take us through it. I know you were for a brief period separated. What happened . I had left the Visitor Center after our initial tour, to go across to senator portmans office to pick up gal have i tickets to view the house of representatives this afternoon, and my husband and two of my kid stayed in the Visitor Center, and then my son and i went over to the center. We were on our way back with the tickets and we were walking in front hoff the capitol building, and probably about 200 yards away from the Visitor Center when people were running towards us, saying, we were told to run, run, so then officers were telling everybody to run as fast as you can away from the capitol building. And so i got as far as they would let me to make me run, and i stopped, and i immediately tried to text my husband, and see if they were okay, and i was hearing some people say, and he confirmed he heard shots from where he was. He was down at the level where the Visitor Center tour starts, down did he say how many shot inside was it like one or two . He said he heard a shot. He said it sounds like from a handgun, and he said maybe it sound like a whole clip. Wow. So dish. With what he heard. So rapid fire in succession. Thats what he said. Sorry. Go on. And then he said immediately everybody said to take cover, and they were down on the ground, and then they were then officers were surrounding and they apparently from his text messages, i surmise they brought them to the theater and the opposite direction where the shots, he said, came from. Are you reunited now . No, not yet. Im Still Standing out here by the corner of the capitol and the russell building hitch was being questioned by police so he was detained. The good news is there was one shooter, according to all authorities. That one shooter was taken into custody. There was one victim, that that victim was Police Officer, not badly hurt. So that must be relieving to you nat no one in your family is injured, it. Yes. But this is note day you expected. Not at all. Im guessing you said you had contact. Im guessing it would have to be a little tense. I was, but they were okay, and im glad to hear that he he thought initially that he heard word down there they said it was School Children that were hit, and so im glad there werent more injuries. Were glad as well. Diane, all the best to you and thank you for joining us, good luck getting reunited with your family there. And since she mentioned it i will say that no one else has been hit besides a Police Officer. Every single report indicates there is one victim, that one victim is a Police Officer, that Police Officer is not, not badly injured at all. The initial report now you know, usually were 45 minutes into this thing now 50 minutes. Happened about 50 minutes ago. And its usually an hour later you start to get some clarity after things calm down. The initial report was, man seen with gun. We now know that was their initial report as it went in majors with a gun on capitol hill. So apparently there was a report of a person with a gun before any shots were fired. The initial reports were, man seep with gun. The next report was, man with gun shot by police. But we know a Police Officer was shot. We are led to believe that it is the suspect who shot the police. The Police Officer. To the frankly thats something on which we have to wait for clarity. The house, the senate and the library of congress build little are now open for routine business. This is brand new and just into Fox News Channel. The house, senate, and he library of Congress Building are now open for routine business. The u. S. Capitol building is open for official business only, which is the case whenever theyre not in session elm u. S. Capitol Visitor Center will remain closed until further notice. Obviously. There was a shooting there. An active crime scene now. They have a lot of ballistics work to do there. Have to speak to witnesses. It would be completely imfrom open it at this moment and Capitol Police are not doing that. The next topic of discussion will most likely, be as it was in europe before i left there a couple days ago, what do we do about areas around security zones . What do we do about Airport Security areas . How do we increase security in the enormous halls where we go in to check in especially four international flights, even domestic flights. They say youre being watched and the rest. We both know, if youre about to take a flight you walk into the building, you have a bag next to you, you can take anything in there you want, up and until the timeout get to Security Check point, you can take anything couple of can bring your water about spool the terminal there before you go to the ticket counter and before you go up to the terminal and punch the buttons and find out nothing is working. Before that you can have anything you want. The question becomes do you back it up . Well, they dont really do that in the United States because they certainly do overseas and many of you know that. The airport in tel aviv, before you get there an update now. From capitol hill from our reporter chat pergram, male entered never north area on the senate side of the capitol Visitor Center, pulled a gun. The two officers said there was no officer shot is in one bystander possibly injured who may have had a previous record. I wondered evidence the the initial report was man seen with gun, the next report was, man shot by police, and in custody. And then we got these reports of a Police Officer barely injured. Sound like the superficial wound of some kind, and that report came to us from multiple sources, including Law Enforcement sources, that a Police Officer had been shot. But we were told from the very beginning that it was not a serious injury. Now, an hour later, exactly one hour, and the story is starting to become clear. Chad pergram on chapol hill. Chad, to you. Reporter yes. Heres what we know. Have an individual on the senate side of the capitol Visitor Center. They [inaudible] you have to clear security, and had something, firearm on his person, obviously setting thises off. You had u. S. Capitol Police Officers at some point, as he tried to get to the gun or something, they drew ware weapons. We do not know if there war an exchange of gunfire but we know the u. S. Capitol Police Officers fired and took down the individual. He was taken to the hospital. Im told by one source they may have known something about this individual. I dont know if that means a prior record or known to the Capitol Police, but the most important thing is that no u. S. Capitol Police Officers wore wounded. That was the initial word we heard, maybe there was an officer who got a glancing blow. Were told the other wounded person, besides the gunman, was a bystander. I was told by an eye witness a couple minutes ago it was just the scarest thing the had ever seen. Thats what the described it. And said the kids youve got a lot of School Groups were suit absolutely panicked and one witness who came out tooth the Visitor Center said some of the little kids, it was such a shocking startling event that they said, theyll never be the same after this. This will rattle them for some time. It takes a while to gather the information. The scary part is this unfolded inside the Visitor Center. You go through a short area before you go through the magnetometer, back to my point, they wanted to push the security perimeter back furor there at some point, the former sergeant at arms, the u. S. Capitol police chief, thought that any building, including the capitol, that you come usually step in at least a step or two and that the concern, there is a little bit of a gray zone there when you enter these build religious someone may or may not have a firearm. Chad, thanks. We have some video in, bat 5. This is amateur video from capitol hill. Lets watch it. Chris, play it. [inaudible] i want to bring our viewers up to speed. A lot of reports right now and i want to get chad is still there we know a Police Officer was slight hi hurt. Got secret Service Report that came it. It has temporarily closed the north and south fencelines of the white house complex as a routine precautionary measure during the u. S. Capitol incident. Chad, was this officer shot or injured or what . Reporter im told by very Senior Source here that there was no officer shot. Again, it takes a while sometimes to sort this out. But that was the initial report and i went back to the sources again, and they said, no, there was no officer who was wounded. Now, again, could they have sustained some sort of minor injury if there was a scuffle . That unclear. I should let our viewer knows ten minutes ago we got a flash we rely on a number of different News Services and have ore own internal wire service with our own people have another wire service from our affiliated reporters and television stations and newspapers. We open hundreds of them around the world. We have a further news service that is in affiliation with other news satisfieses, including reuters, the Reuters News Service flashed an individual tried to gain into by the white house. That is no true according to people at the white house, that did not happen. Further theres a report from new york city, the bomb squad working in times square alerted of a private security dog there there was a suspicious package there. That has now been proved it was nothing. Long and short of it, these are heaty times, and people are heady times and people are on edge, and if you see something, say something, is the order of the day and besides that the best thing all of us can do according to every Security Service organization and pundit and everything else, is remain calm, and carry on. It is this high level of alert and this high level of stress that causes sometimes bad things to happen. If you see something, say something. If you see something suspicious, be as calm as you and can report it to those authorities. But the idea of these school kids being affected for life, as chad put it, its a disturbing thought indeed. We dont we cant at this point im not comfortable telling you exactly what happened except that a shooter or someone with a gun has been taken into custody. Somebody with a gun has been taken into custody at the Visitor Center there on capitol hill, and we have had live pictures. We have to report those you for the following reason the white house was put on lockdown briefly. The entire capitol hill complex surrounded by authorities, and put on however brief a lockup, all of the employees there, and there are thousands, told to shelter in place. This is a Major National interest story. The news item that is happening in the capitol of our nation. At the same time, suddenly there are reports that somebody tried to gain entry into the white house but the white house says thats note true. And the secret Service Notes it has closed the fenceline of the white house as a procautionary measure. A lot of this happens because we followed we have zero reason to believe this is terrorism. That said we follow terrorism reports around the world and we now know, for instance, in israel, when there is a terrorist attack, you immediately want to clear that area because so often the mod does on plan da of terrorists has been to strike once when the stuart servicessed arrive, trike again for maximum casualties. We know in brussels last week, on tuesday last week, in the morning, almost simultaneous bombings at the airport there and then one hour and a couple minutes later theres a bombing at a subway station. So when any one thing happens, everybody elves puts their collective freakout on and its kind of noterrable understandable but then you start getting inaccurate report that lead to more confusion and stress and awareness. Its a time too be highly aware but no more reason to be highly aware today, at this moment, than there was right befor that situation happened in washington, or before that situation with the bombing in brussels. Its a time, according to the authorities and our leaders, to be vigilant, if you see something, say something, but to be calm and carry on. Because what the this is not terrorism incident in washington. But what happened in brussels, at least, they want to upset the pop has. Populace. They want to us stop living our free life and, frankly, the isis terrorists, isil, daesh, wants the United States and western powers to enter this war. They would like to set up a war of religions, and they would like to draw the United States into that war, and what the United States at least the policy thus far has been to participate in the manner which we have but no to go further because we know isis wants us on the ground. Now we have this incident in washington. The first question, was it terrorist related . Up sos like at this moment what we had is one person with a gun, authorities sweeping in, quickly and understandably so just got officially word that one Security Officer came forward and said we believe we have an active shooter and they did believe they had an active shooter. But this person was apparently taken down by authorities and that person is now in custody, in fact that person has been taken to hospital. We dont believe the injuries are lifethreatening. The secret service cordoned off the fence areas reason the white house and now confirm no officer shot. A male entered the north area of the senate Side Office Center while going through the metam detector the machine went off and the man pulled out a gun. Did the forget he had a gun . That a possibility but look what chaos it has brought. Continuing coverage, now your world with neil cavuto. Major scare on catch capitol hill. A suspect in custody, still many questions unanswered welcome. Im in nor neil cavuto. James rosen in washington on what we need to know. James . Reporter charles good, afternoon. From sunny and windy capitol hill, very fluid situation and we have received over the course of the past hour some conflicting information. We seem know there was an active shooter informed the capitol Visitor Center thats on the capitol hill complex. It is not