Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal confirmed that he and Sen. Chris Murphy are okay after gunshots were reportedly fired near the U.S. Capitol about one hour ago.
Three of Connecticut’s five House members have tweeted that they are okay, as are their staffs. There have been no reports of injuries to any members of Congress from the incident.
Reached by Hearst Connecticut Newspapers shortly after the incident, Blumenthal said he had walked back to Senate offices with Murphy after a lockdown at the Capitol was lifted.
Blumenthal said he was in the Senate chamber when the shots were reported. He said he had been talking to New York Sen. Chuck Schumer about the potential impact of the government shutdown and Sikorsky layoffs on New York state’s economy.
Suddenly, Blumenthal said, another senator came up to them and said there had been a shooting. A Capitol staffer said the Senate would be going to recess. Capitol Police also locked the building down.
“It was pretty dramatic and shocking to be on the Senate floor and hear about it that way,” he said.
Blumenthal said he had been on a conference call with Connecticut’s House delegation shortly before the shooting was reported.
Lockdown has been lifted. Staff and I are safe. Thank you Capitol Police for all you do to keep us safe today and every day.
— Elizabeth Esty (@RepEsty) October 3, 2013
Thanks to all the great Capitol Police officers keeping us us safe.
— Rosa DeLauro (@rosadelauro) October 3, 2013
Staff is safe in my Cannon office. Capitol itself locked down. Thank you Capitol Police.
— Jim Himes (@jahimes) October 3, 2013
Updates will be posted here as available.