Police identify man who fatally shot himself after crashing into barricade near Capitol

WASHINGTON — A man drove his car into a barricade near the U.S. Capitol early Sunday, then fired gunshots into the air before fatally shooting himself, police said.

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According to The Associated Press, the incident occurred shortly before 4 a.m. at a barricade at East Capitol Street and 2nd Street in the nation’s capital.

Update 5:40 p.m. EDT Aug. 14: In a news release, U.S. Capitol Police said that Richard A. York III, of Delaware, was identified as the man who fatally shot himself at the U.S. Capitol early Sunday.

Officials said it remains unclear why York drove to the Capitol.

Original report: In a news release, the U.S. Capitol Police said that after crashing into the barricade, the man exited his vehicle, which “became engulfed in flames.”

The man then fired several shots into the air along East Capitol Street. When police approached, the man turned the weapon on himself, according to the news release.

No other injuries were reported.

“At this time, it does not appear the man was targeting any members of Congress, who are on recess,” Capitol Police said in a statement. “It does not appear officers fired their weapons.”

The attack is reminiscent of an incident when a man drove a vehicle into two Capitol Police officers at a checkpoint in April 2021, killing an 18-year veteran of the force, according to the AP.

The Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia is handling the investigation.

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