Transcripts For WUSA Wusa 9 News At 6pm 20131003

Disturbing video of her just speeding right in front of the capitol as you have seen over and over. Were hoping to get some answers coming up shortly. Back to you. Peggy fox, as you know well be bringing everyone that News Conference live as it happens. And we just got a twominute warning. So in a couple of minutes, again, the fbi, secret service, and metropolitan Police Department, they will be coming to those microphones that you see right there. We can start to see it off in the distance there just a few yards away. A lot of questions still remain to be answered right now. We want to know why the woman was here. Perhaps who she was. What they found out about her background, who was driving the car, who the other woman in the hospital is. Here it comes. I want to talk about the incident today. At about 14 to 12 hours today, a black infiniti sedan struck the security fencing and one of the uniform divisions at the outer check point of the white house at 15th street and northeast west. The vehicle then fled east on pennsylvania avenue. There were multiple crime scenes as a result of the vehicle fleaing with multiple shots fired at several different locations. This case is under fire with the systems from the Capitol Police, secret service, the bureau of investigation. Thats all we have, but ill take a few questions. Sir, sir, is this a way that it could have been an accident that she did not know where she was going . It is under investigation. But at this point, the unauthorized vehicle, they attempted to gain access at a very outer perimeter check point. This is an outer check point of the white house. Beyond that check point, there were other check points that someone would have to go through. But there is this unauthorized vehicle that approached that check point as they acted appropriately. The vehicle then fled and in fleeing struck one of our officers as it deparking lotted the scene. I dont think thats being released at this point. That is also under investigation, but the uniform Division Officers and Capitol Police officers. Where were the shots fired . There were no shots fired at the white house. These other locations, its where the shots were fired. Again, it is all under investigation. Where were the shots fired . I will let the chief of Capitol Police talk about that. Ill turn it over at this point. Ed donovan from secret service, chief. Good evening, chief of the United States Capitol Police. Youve already heard the preliminary investigation regarding what happened at the white house. Our officers attempted to make a stop. The soak eluded them, continued up behind us. It appears that our officer in attempt to pursue the vehicle struck the barricade. It then eventually stopped northeast where we were able to capture the suspect. Do you have the status of the officer . I personally spoke to the officer as he is doing well. Hes a 23year veteran of the United States Capitol Police and doing very well. Thank you for asking. Is he at the hospital . He was at the hospital when i spoke to him, but hes going to be fine. I dont have the specific injuries. How was he injured . His vehicle struck the barricade behind us. It appears all around the capitol that they worked exceptionally well as we had the brief lockdown of the capitol. We were able to lock things down and clear the event extremely quickly to keep everybody safe. Notifying everybody of what was going on as we actually cleared the scene rather quickly. We had a briefing probably within that hour of what was going on as we are investigating it. I mean multiple Law Enforcement agencies. This appears to be a single incident with nothing to terrorism. Thank you. Pardon me . Can you rule out terrorism . From the facts and the circumstances that we have thus far, it appears that there is no relation. Are you asking me or telling me . The somali dissent. We are not talking about the suspect at this time. What was the matter . We are not releasing any information at this time on the suspect at this time. What was the motive . Can you talk about the child in the case and where the child is now . My understanding is that there was a 1yearold child in the car. I believe actually one of our officers initially rescued the child and took the child to initial medical care. In the vicinity here. And then the child was taken to the hospital. Was it a boy or a girl . Pardon me . The barricade, that they were, was it a boy or a girl . We are obviously still investigating that. Let me turn it over to chief and the metropolitan Police Department. Was it a boy or a girl . I do not have that information. Let me try to answer a couple of questions real quick. Ill tell you upfront. There are certain questions that were not going to answer. Were not going to answer any questions about the suspect at this point and the information that were giving you are preliminary as there is some video that has been released that will cost you with that video. And we want to capture the incident here, the small part of the incident as there was a thing that were not captured on video before and after obviously. As of right now, we do know that shots were fired during the pursuit. Down to 100 block of maryland avenue. The pursuit involve both United States and the secret service and the United States Capitol Police. Right now the suspect in the vehicle, we do know was struck by gunfire and at this point pronounced. The child is a year old and in Good Condition and in protective custody. Right now it is all very preliminary as we dont know which officers fired, how many rounds were fired. At the white house and the capitol, the security perimeters were done exactly with what they were suppose to do, they stopped the suspect from reaching the security prim material in both locations. I would say for both of the United States secret service and the Capitol Police officers from what i have seen so far on this investigation as they acted heroically in trying to stop the suspect from entering the security perimeters. We have two Police Officers that were injured. Fortunately both will be okay as they were injured and they are just doing their job. Ill take a few questions as were not going to answer anything about the investigation pertaining to evidence at this point. The suspect, the last gunfire was at 100 avenue. And the suspect was pronounced as some time later. Do you think that it could have been an accident . All the information we have right now, it does not appear to be an accident. This was a lengthy pursuit. There were multiple vehicles struck. And two perimeters that were attempted to be breached. So it does not appear to be an accident in any way. We dont know that yet. Im sorry . Why arent you releasing more information about them at this point . Were not releasing anymore information about the suspect or anybody else. Was she armed . Were not going to comment on any information regarding evidence at this point. Can you talk about the person traveling to get to maryland avenue. Where was the car going . Where were the different places fired . I can tell you that this were two places where the shots were fired. It is still preliminary as it started at 15th and east street. Came down pennsylvania avenue. At some point in the garfield circle with shots fired after the suspect vehicle rammed into a secret service vehicle. And then the vehicle, they then continued on first street, constitution avenue, up constitution, around the barriers, then on to 100 block maryland avenue where the vehicle crashed and additional shots were fired there. Reporter were not sure yet exactly. There was contact made with the barrier as we know at least by one vehicle as we dont know if there were other vehicles. But the barriers, they did go up as we have at least one vehicle striking the barriers. We do not know that yet. They will see the secret service. Reporter right now the preliminary information that they both had officers fired. Ill take two more questions and then were done. What about the verbal exchange . The metropolitan Police Department will be investigating the case as were getting support from fbi, Capitol Police, and secret service. Any verbal exchange from the suspect in i cannot comment on that at this point. Ill take one more question. How did it all end . The vehicle crashed. At that point this is close to the security booth. The Security Officer from the capitol, there was another round of gunfire at that point. For and that is where the pursue ended. All were giving you right now is the facts that we know and what has happened. Im not ruling anything out at this point, but i can tell you that im pretty confident that this is not an accident. All right, thank you. Well, what i said was it does not appear to be. I just want to reiterate the heroic work of the United States Capitol Police officers at multiple locations in addition to rescuing the child out of the vehicle. At this location and at maryland northeast, our officers kept the perimeter secure and responded quickly and heroically and locked the scene down. Thank you very much. We appreciate it. Anymore briefings . Chief, anymore briefings . Nah, i think that were done for tonight. What is your name again, sir . Reporter okay look the most important thing that we have learned from the News Conference is that we now know two Police Officers were injured in todays incident. A Capitol Police officer and a secret Service Officer. Kathy, chief kathy from the d. C. Metropolitan Police Department. They said that both the officers are going to be fine. And she and the secret Service Officer here, they said that these officers, they acted heroically today. We have learned that multiple vehicles, they were rammed. Also that officers, they were struck as it sounds like several officers, they did not say how many officers were struck, but we do know again that two officers were hurt. We also know about new information that no shots were fired at the white house. She would not give a motive or release any information about the suspect. Just wanted to give us the facts of the case. There was no nexus of terrorism as they reiterated their belief that this is an isolated incident. Not at all related to terrorism or any other group or connection. And they confirmed that there was a woman driving that vehicle and that she was killed in the final stop right up here on constitution avenue near the capitol. And that there was a 1yearold child in that vehicle. And that the Capitol Police officers have taken that child. And they have taken her as she was transported to Childrens Hospital as we understand it. Learning some new information tonight. We understand that the child is in Good Condition. Another bit of good information that we just learned from the Police Department. So that is the update. Of course, we still have questions, you know why this all started, what the motive was, what was going on with this woman as we believe that it was a 34yearold woman from connecticut. And not releasing the name at this point. And that we are asking the question, why did it start, why was there confrontation at the white house. Also, we do need the Police Officers here, the leaders here who said that the security perimeters worked. Everything was put in place to protect the white house and to protect the capitol and it worked and that the suspect, they did not gain entry through the barricade and through the Massive Police protection that has been happening. Derek back to you. And including the fact that there were places of gunfire exchanged. The garfield circle were watching it over and over again. And they were killed near capitol hill. And they did not happen for them at the vehicle. Perhaps the woman that it is one of the other officers as we learned it with the Capitol Police officer and the secret Service Officer that were hurt. Moving through your veteran and the Capitol Hill Police force there. I found it very interesting as they were able to rule, if not the terrorism very quickly. But they will be backing up any details as to how they need to make that justification so quickly there. And now when we come back from the break, we are going to show you this video again as we have actually enhanced it and toned it down a little built because its the only glimpse of the suspect right now. And well show you that when we february, 2013. A landmark transportation bill is up for consideration. Even though its backed by republican governor mcdonnell. Ken cuccinelli joins Tea Party Republicans to block the plan. But Terry Mcauliffe believes its time to break through the gridlock in richmond. Mcauliffe presses democrats to support the bill. And the bill passes. Terry mcauliffe. Putting virginia first. Im Terry Mcauliffe, candidate for governor, and i sponsored this ad. We are back here all day long with the witness accounts all day long as well. Now, what can you tell us here as well . Reporter this is where it ended. 2nd and constitution northeast. The fleaing car trapped by the security barriers and pinned in by police in their vehicles. One witness saying that the car was attempting to get near their sidewalk. Here is what the witnesses described. What happened next . It was like boom, boom, boom. He looked like he would come up the sidewalk where he walked up the sidewalk with the capitol. Yes. And he looked and he was bumped into the barriers there. Thats when they kind of boxed him in. And it was just a big thing really. And they sat there straight in a row. Pretty darn close. I mean, we were right there. They crashed into the side of the vehicle. They blocked them in so they could not get away and then the shooting started as i could say that we did not stand up there watching to see what was happening. Because we were worried about the bullets. What were your meet reactions . Not again. This is the kind of thing that we live and work here and we do the Public Service and you hope that things like this, that they dont happen for them to vent the aggression or whatever it is. And that it will be leading to actions like this again. Its a sad reflexion times again. The section here is roped off being treated as a large crime scene. But the life outside the police tape is rapidly returning to normal. In northeast washington, im scott broom, wusa9. And very sad reflection of where we are right now as we are indeed right here with you at wusa9. Com. Providing you coverage of the incident. They shocked washington this afternoon perhaps not as much as they might have before they have been through many of these sorts of things as we have. Powerful images that we have seen throughout the day. Well, we have seen the most powerful one that you have seen so far. The chilling video taken by the news organization. And that it actually captured the moments when the police, they drew their guns for the suspects vehicle to try to get her to stop and youll be able to see it right here as they were actually filming this woman. The protester when they noticed the activity right there behind them. And thats garfield circle. Thats one of the big points there where police, they surrounded that. Youll be looking from the capitol towards the Botanical Gardens . Right. Now, you know what, that is absolutely right. That is exactly where it is. Ive been having a tough time finding it out. I know exactly where it is. If we could get a map up, that would be on the other side of the capitol. I know where that is. If you look at the pond right next to the map of the u. S. Capitol that it would have been right in the circles near the big capitol area i believe. Yes, the Botanical Gardens. Thats it right there. So i think that is what happened. Then with the vehicle and what they would have done, youre looking at the map as it would have gone up and around that capitol to get on the avenue to where it could have hit up in the area of maryland northeast. Thatll be near the supreme court. Thats one mystery as we are trying to determine who was in that vehicle. Was there a man in that vehicle . And the investigative officer, they have taken that video, the video that is shot by them there in that news organization. Hes taken it as he has zoomed in and slowed down as were going to try to take a look as youre looking at that with us. Is there a passing in there . No, it is almost impossible to see it. You dont even see the child in the backseat. Well, thats one thing that we do know is that during the press conference, there was never any second suspect. In fact she was the only mention and her child was the only mention during that press conference. And that is one thing that you can gather from all of this right now. Sot big mention of the other suspect or the other man that could have potentially be with them, we dont have that information yet. And that man to confirm it. Contactually. We just dont know. Lets talk to bruce leshan live once again with us. Now, youve been hearing from the sources, giving us a lot of very pertinent information. As you have listened to what we have had here so far. Can you add anything . Especially after listen together press conference from the various policing organizations. Reporter well, i could only hear a little bit of the press conference, derek, but i have been pushing my sources on this question of whether or not there was another adult in that vehicle. And that they are now backing away from that. The big tribute that perhaps is the kind of fog for them and the battle of the intensity of this incident to remember with the navy yard and how there were, well, the belief that there were other potential suspects for them down there and then they finally concluded that it was just the one individual there. And apparently there is some confusion about this. And now it sounds like perhaps that they believed that there was somebody who was the boyfriend or they had some custody of this child. Maybe it was just a big passer by who was trying to help out with the kid. As it sounds to me now like that we cannot confirm that there was anybody else in the vehicle other than this one woman. Thats what ive been pushing my sources on. I have always had some calls about this question about the Police Vehicle and her vehicle and those barricades. If you look at the photograph of the Police Cruiser, that is the Capitol Police cruiser and this is from the d. C. Firefighters local union. And it looks like its gotten the significant damage to the underside of that thing. And what im hearing is that it may have been hit by those barricades that deployed up at the capitol. The question, of course, is the womans car, the black infiniti. If we zoom in, you can get a real good shot of it, but it does not appear to have that similar kind of damage that we saw to the Police Cruiser there. And so the chief, they talked about the barricades working as planned, but from everything that i can see here, it looks like the woman, they have somehow made it past that barricades and they have come to a stop behind the guard shack here and how she did that, were going to have to look into and to find out all of it as it is a big question here. Now, the other big question is whether or not that there were any kind of an exchange of fire. And that we are hearing from some sources that she was not armed, that she did not have any weapon that there was no weapon in the car. That we want to confirm that with the police. But that is going to be a big focus for them obviously if this investigation, whether the officers opened fire because they felt like they were in danger and because that the capitol and the white house, that they might have been in danger or whether there were any kinds of exchange of fire. We had reports that there was an exchange of the fire, and the intensity that it may not be accurate. Back to you. All right. Our security expert pointed it out that the car itself, its a weapon. And therefore it might be the be the reason for the gunfire. But the other question, who is the other woman in the hospital . And that we were told by them that there were two people injured in the hospital. One was identified as the Capitol Police officer. The other, some unidentified woman. We were also told at the press conference that two officers were hurt. And could the other woman have been that other injured officer . Have you heard anything about that . Reporter im sorry, derek, i really dont have anything at all on that. And all i have is just this one individual and you heard the chief that they confirmed it as we broke the story some time ago that she was shot and killed up there at that location. Reporter well, we know that this was quite the scene. Reporter i actually got one other thing for you guys as we were talking about it. Im understanding as i got a call from one of my sources on the video that youre showing with this little girl. They actually saw the little girl as they were initially being treated at the heart building. They confirmed to me that it is indeed the little girl inside that vehicle. Thats great information and something that weve been talking about for some time wondering. And that is the big shot of the officer right there. Towing that little girl to safety as we understand that the Capitol Police officer, they pulled the girl to safety, they got her some treatment and ultimately taken to Childrens Hospital and they are now in child protective custody. Perhaps the contrasting shots of the day. The officer, they were saving that little girl. Pulling her from that car and you can see it with the officers opening fire. Heroically, yeah. Because they had to and because that they were concerned that the perimeter that it might be breached. Yeah. You have been watching our coverage all day long about this chaos around the capitol. We thank you for joining us. We know that the cbs evening news is going to continue the coverage starting at 6 30. So for Derek Mcginty and me, lesli foster, we thank you for joining us tonight. And jan and derek will be back at 7 00. Tonight, chaos in washington. Police chase a suspect from the white house to the u. S. Capitol. Shots ring out, both buildings go into lockdown. Reports from bob orr and john miller. It was 20 years ago today. Today. For the first time you will see one of the most famous battles in u. S. History unfold as lara logan reports from somalia. Dozens of africans seek a better life are killed when a fishing boat sinks off italy. Mark phillips on the disaster at sea. And jeff glor in a town built on coal going from boom to bust. Captioning sponsored by cbs this is the cbs evening news with scott pelley. Good evening. Scott is on assignment. Im norah odonnell