Driver Shot Dead in Capitol Hill Car Chase

03 Oct, 2013

A dramatic car chase through the streets of Washington from near the White House to the U.S. Capitol ended in gunfire on Thursday when law enforcement officers shot and killed the driver as lawmakers and aides huddled in a lockdown.

The identity of the driver – a woman – was not released. “The suspect in the vehicle was struck by gunfire and at this point has been pronounced (dead),” Washington’s police chief, Cathy Lanier, told reporters.

Driving a black car, the 34-year-old woman rammed security barricades “at the very outer perimeter of the White House,” U.S. Secret Service spokesman Ed Donovan said. Then the car, carrying a 1-year-old girl, raced up Pennsylvania Avenue toward the Capitol where Congress was in session.

Police gave chase and fired at the car. It finally came to a halt near the Capitol building, said Capitol Police Chief Kim Dine.

“My understanding is there was a 1-year-old child in the car,” Dine said. “I believe one of our officers rescued the child,” who was taken to a hospital.

Two officers were hurt in Thursday’s incident. One was a Secret Service officer who was struck by the suspect’s car outside the White House.

Reuters

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