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Crime, Law and Justice
Becky Sullivan, NPR

Police investigate an incident with a car crash and gunfire near the U.S. Capitol

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Police are seen at the barricade where a man crashed his car early Sunday morning. Authorities say the man then exited the car and fired a gun several times into the air before killing himself.
Police are seen at the barricade where a man crashed his car early Sunday morning. Authorities say the man then exited the car and fired a gun several times into the air before killing himself.
Daniel Slim/AFP via Getty Images

Updated August 14, 2022 at 3:43 PM ET

Police are investigating an early Sunday morning incident in which a man crashed his car near the U.S. Capitol and fired multiple gunshots before killing himself.

Authorities identified the man as Richard A. York III, a 29-year-old from Delaware.

The reasons why he chose to drive to the Capitol were unclear, though he did not appear to be targeting any members of Congress, the U.S. Capitol Police said in a statement. No one else was injured.

A worker looks over the area where a man, identified by officials as Richard A. York III of Delaware, crashed into a barricade at the U.S. Capitol on Sunday.
A worker looks over the area where a man, identified by officials as Richard A. York III of Delaware, crashed into a barricade at the U.S. Capitol on Sunday.
Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images

The incident began around 4:00 a.m. as York drove his car into a barricade about one block east of the Capitol.

As he exited the car, the vehicle "became engulfed in flames," the police statement said. York then fired several gunshots, apparently into the air.

"When our officers heard the sound of gunfire, they immediately responded and were approaching the man when he shot himself," Capitol Police said. The agency said it did "not appear" that any officers fired their weapons.

Congress is currently on recess until after Labor Day.

This is a breaking news story. Some things reported by the media will later turn out to be wrong. We will focus on reports from officials and other authorities, credible news outlets and reporters who are at the scene. We will update as the situation develops.

If you or someone you know may be considering suicide or is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.