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Officer killed in attack near US Capitol

By Melissa Macaya, Meg Wagner, Veronica Rocha, Melissa Mahtani and Fernando Alfonso III, CNN

Updated 7:54 p.m. ET, April 2, 2021

19 Posts

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3:05 p.m. ET, April 2, 2021

Officer injured in attack has died, police chief says

One of the two officers injured in Friday's attack near the US Capitol building has died, according to Acting US Capitol Police Chief Yogananda D. Pittman. The officer's name was not released.

"I just ask that the public continue to keep US Capitol Police and their families in your prayers," she said.

"This has been an extremely difficult time for US Capitol Police after the events of Jan. 6 and now the events that have occurred here today. So I ask that you keep our US Capitol Police family in your thoughts and prayers," Pittman added.

Watch:

3:05 p.m. ET, April 2, 2021

Acting US Capitol Police chief describes what happened on Capitol Hill this afternoon

Yogananda Pittman, acting chief of the US Capitol Police, laid bare the details leading to the incident that occurred at about 1:02 p.m. ET today on Capitol Hill.

"The suspect entered what we refer to as the north barricade of the Capitol. The suspect rammed his car into two of our officers and then hit the north barricade barrier," Pittman said during a news conference this afternoon. "At such time the suspect exited the vehicle with a knife in hand. Our officers then engaged that suspect. He did not respond to verbal commands."

Pittman added: "The suspect did start lunging toward US Capitol Police officers, at which time US Capitol Police officers fired upon the suspect. At this time the suspect has been pronounced deceased."

Two US Capitol Police officers were taken to two different hospitals with injuries and one has died, Pittman said.

Watch the update:

2:45 p.m. ET, April 2, 2021

Capitol Police are holding a news conference

US Capitol Police are holding a news conference now and providing an update on the attack earlier today.

2:33 p.m. ET, April 2, 2021

DC National Guard deploy Immediate Response Force to support Capitol Police

From CNN's Barbara Starr

National Guard troops stand guard along Constitution Avenue as law enforcement responds to a security incident near the U.S. Capitol on April 2 in Washington, DC. Drew Angerer/Getty Images

The DC National Guard deployed an Immediate Response Force made up of members of the National Guard to the Capitol complex today to support the US Capitol Police, a DC National Guard spokesperson told CNN.

"Due to operational security, we cannot discuss further details regarding the QRF (quick reaction force). No National Guard members were injured in the incident at the Capitol," the spokesperson added.

There are roughly 2,300 National Guard members in DC supporting local, state, and federal authorities in DC, the spokesperson said.

2:28 p.m. ET, April 2, 2021

Capitol Police will hold a news conference soon

From CNN's Adrienne Vogt

US Capitol Police tweeted that a news conference will be held at 2:45 p.m. ET to give updates on the situation outside the Capitol.

2:27 p.m. ET, April 2, 2021

Suspect in Friday's attack has died, sources say

From CNN's Lauren Fox, Jessica Dean and David Shortell

Multiple sources confirm that the suspect in Friday's attack near the US Capitol has died.

A law enforcement official confirmed earlier that at least one of the officers was stabbed.

Earlier, a senior Congressional aide and a US Capitol Police source told CNN that after a driver rammed a car into a barricade on Constitution Avenue, the driver exited the vehicle brandishing a knife.

The Capitol complex remains in total lockdown, and no one is being allowed in or out of any Capitol buildings.

2:25 p.m. ET, April 2, 2021

Here's what the scene at the US Capitol looks like right now

From CNN's Brianna Keiler

Troops stand guard near the scene of a car that crashed into a barrier on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on April 2. Patrick Semansky/AP

Officers and some National Guard were spotted barricading a roadway near the US Capitol this afternoon following the incident.

2:24 p.m. ET, April 2, 2021

One of the Capitol Police officers was stabbed

From CNN's Evan Perez

A law enforcement official confirms that at least one of the officers was stabbed.

The US Capitol Police responded and shot the suspect, who was taken into custody, according to police. The sources say the suspect was conscious and taken to a hospital.

4:01 p.m. ET, April 2, 2021

How lawmakers are reacting to the security threat at the Capitol

From CNN's Ali Main

Both the House and the Senate are currently in recess, but lawmakers are watching the situation at the US Capitol and tweeting their reactions. Many lawmakers are in their home districts for the Easter holiday.

Here's how some of them are reacting: