Army: Barricaded in office, soldier shot herself

A commanding general at a Virginia Army base says an enraged soldier with a gun barricaded herself in an office, then shot herself in the head as officials tried to negotiate with her.

Maj. Gen. Stephen R. Lyons says the soldier went on a rampage, throwing objects. Fort Lee temporarily went on lockdown while she was barricaded on the third floor of the four-story building that is headquarters for the Army's Combined Arms Support Command. Lyons says about 1,100 people were inside the building.

The Army didn't identify the soldier or give her condition. Lyons says she's a sergeant 1st class who's been in the Army for 14 years and at Fort Lee for three. He says her gun wasn't a service weapon.

Lyons says officials don't know whether she was being treated for mental health issues and couldn't speculate whether alcohol or drugs might have played a role.

No other injuries were reported.

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