Capitol shooting suspect was known to police.
U.S. Capitol Police shot a Tennessee man Monday afternoon after he pulled out a gun at the Capitol Visitor Center, law enforcement officials said.
A female civilian bystander was injured by shrapnel, but no U.S. Capitol Police officers were injured.
"We believe this is an act of a single person who has frequented the Capitol grounds before, and there is no reason to believe this is anything more than a criminal act," U.S. Capitol Police Chief Matthew Verderosa said.
He said the gunman, who law enforcement officials identified as Larry Russell Dawson, is currently in surgery at a hospital and that a weapon was recovered on the scene. Verderosa also described the woman's injuries as "minor" and said she was transported to a hospital.
The gunman attempted to go through the metal detectors at the Capitol Visitor Center entrance. When those magnetometers beeped, he was stopped by security and then pulled out a gun. A Capitol police officer then shot him, sources told CNN.
Dawson was arrested on a charge of assaulting a police officer in October after an outburst in the chamber of the House of Representatives. Court documents from that 2015 incident describe Dawson as a 66-year-old man from Tennessee. In that incident, according to the documents, Dawson "loudly stated to Congress he was a 'prophet of God.' "
The Capitol complex was locked down for nearly an hour following the incident. The Senate Sergeant at Arms has told staffers and others to "return to normal operations."
"Per USCP, shelter in place has been lifted and the Capitol is open for official business only. Capitol Visitor Center remains closed," the Senate Sergeant at Arms tweeted
, CNN
Updated 2240 GMT (0540 HKT) March 28, 2016
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 28: U.S. Capitol police stand guard outside the U.S. Capitol after at least one person was shot in the Capitol Visitor Center March 28, 2016 in Washington, DC. The Capitol was placed in "lock down" following the shooting. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
new video capitol visitor center lockdown bash sot nr_00001004
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New video shows witness inside Capitol Visitor Center
Emergency personnel respond during a lock down after shots were reportedly fired at the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center March 28, 2016 in Washington, DC.
05:31
U.S. Capitol suspect shot & in custody
A barrier blocks traffic on East Capitol Street Northeast leading to the U.S. Capitol on November 14, 2015 in Washington, D.C.
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Separate security incidents at Capitol, White House
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U.S. Capitol on lockdown, reports of shots fired
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 28: U.S. Capitol police stand guard outside the U.S. Capitol after at least one person was shot in the Capitol Visitor Center March 28, 2016 in Washington, DC. The Capitol was placed in "lock down" following the shooting. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
01:43
Police: Suspect 'frequented the Capitol grounds before'
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 28: Emergency personnel and law enforcement officers gather outside the U.S. Capitol after at least one person was shot in the Capitol Visitor Center March 28, 2016 in Washington, DC. The Capitol was placed in "lock down" following the shooting. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
01:05
Capitol shooting suspect was known to police
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 28: Emergency personnel and law enforcement officers gather outside the U.S. Capitol after at least one person was shot in the Capitol Visitor Center March 28, 2016 in Washington, DC. The Capitol was placed in "lock down" following the shooting. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
02:25
One bystander injured during Capitol incident
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 28: U.S. Capitol police stand guard outside the U.S. Capitol after at least one person was shot in the Capitol Visitor Center March 28, 2016 in Washington, DC. The Capitol was placed in "lock down" following the shooting. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
02:38
Comparing past Capitol Hill shootings to today's scare
new video capitol visitor center lockdown bash sot nr_00001004
02:12
New video shows witness inside Capitol Visitor Center
Emergency personnel respond during a lock down after shots were reportedly fired at the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center March 28, 2016 in Washington, DC.
05:31
U.S. Capitol suspect shot & in custody
A barrier blocks traffic on East Capitol Street Northeast leading to the U.S. Capitol on November 14, 2015 in Washington, D.C.
01:05
Separate security incidents at Capitol, White House
capitol lockdown report shots fired raju nr_00002908
01:24
U.S. Capitol on lockdown, reports of shots fired
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 28: U.S. Capitol police stand guard outside the U.S. Capitol after at least one person was shot in the Capitol Visitor Center March 28, 2016 in Washington, DC. The Capitol was placed in "lock down" following the shooting. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
01:43
Police: Suspect 'frequented the Capitol grounds before'
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 28: Emergency personnel and law enforcement officers gather outside the U.S. Capitol after at least one person was shot in the Capitol Visitor Center March 28, 2016 in Washington, DC. The Capitol was placed in "lock down" following the shooting. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
01:05
Capitol shooting suspect was known to police
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 28: Emergency personnel and law enforcement officers gather outside the U.S. Capitol after at least one person was shot in the Capitol Visitor Center March 28, 2016 in Washington, DC. The Capitol was placed in "lock down" following the shooting. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
02:25
One bystander injured during Capitol incident
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 28: U.S. Capitol police stand guard outside the U.S. Capitol after at least one person was shot in the Capitol Visitor Center March 28, 2016 in Washington, DC. The Capitol was placed in "lock down" following the shooting. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
02:38
Comparing past Capitol Hill shootings to today's scare
.
Story highlights
A female civilian bystander was injured by shrapnel
No U.S. Capitol Police officers were injured
Washington (CNN) — U.S. Capitol Police shot a Tennessee man Monday afternoon after he pulled out a gun at the Capitol Visitor Center, law enforcement officials said.
A female civilian bystander was injured by shrapnel, but no U.S. Capitol Police officers were injured.
"We believe this is an act of a single person who has frequented the Capitol grounds before, and there is no reason to believe this is anything more than a criminal act," U.S. Capitol Police Chief Matthew Verderosa said.
He said the gunman, who law enforcement officials identified as Larry Russell Dawson, is currently in surgery at a hospital and that a weapon was recovered on the scene. Verderosa also described the woman's injuries as "minor" and said she was transported to a hospital.
The gunman attempted to go through the metal detectors at the Capitol Visitor Center entrance. When those magnetometers beeped, he was stopped by security and then pulled out a gun. A Capitol police officer then shot him, sources told CNN.
Dawson was arrested on a charge of assaulting a police officer in October after an outburst in the chamber of the House of Representatives. Court documents from that 2015 incident describe Dawson as a 66-year-old man from Tennessee. In that incident, according to the documents, Dawson "loudly stated to Congress he was a 'prophet of God.' "
The Capitol complex was locked down for nearly an hour following the incident. The Senate Sergeant at Arms has told staffers and others to "return to normal operations."
"Per USCP, shelter in place has been lifted and the Capitol is open for official business only. Capitol Visitor Center remains closed," the Senate Sergeant at Arms tweeted
