Miriam Carey, 34, was shot and killed by Capitol police when she attempted to breach a temporary outer perimeter fence on October 3rd. Police chased Carey 12-blocks. During this pursuit, Carey hit a Secret Service officer while a Capitol Police officer hit a barricade, both only suffered minor injuries. Carey stopped at Constitution Ave. and Second St. where she died after police opened fire. Inside the car was her 18-month old daughter, who was not injured in the chase.

Early reports of the incident caused fear of a large-scale terrorist threat. “This appears to be an isolated singular matter with no nexus to terrorism,” said Capitol Police Chief Kim Dine. Law enforcement came to this conclusion after FBI and local police raided Carey’s condo in Stamford, CT after the incident. “They think she has mental health issues,” said Rep. Mike McCaul, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee after being briefed by the FBI and Secret Service.

The entirety of the Capitol building went into lockdown during the incident. However, the House reconvened at 3:30 p.m. and continued to debate a small bill to reinstate funding for veterans’ affairs during the Government Shutdown.