Latest on Holocaust Museum shooting
-
- June
- 10
Here’s the lastest AP report on the 1 p.m. shooting at the U.S. Holocaust Museum in Washington:
NAFEESA SYEED
Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) — At least two people were shot Wednesday at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, authorities said.
D.C. police spokeswoman Traci Hughes said a person walked into the museum at about 1 p.m. with a rifle and shot a guard. U.S. Park Police Sgt. David Schlosser says one or more guards at the museum returned fire, hitting the suspect.
Authorities said the conditions of those shot were not known. Both were taken to George Washington University Hospital.
Fire department spokesman Alan Etter told CNN a third person was hurt after being cut by broken glass.
The museum normally has a heavy security presence with guards positioned both inside and outside. All visitors are required to pass through metal detectors at the entrance, and bags are screened.
The museum, located just off the National Mall near the Washington Monument, is a popular tourist attraction. It draws about 1.7 million visitors each year.
Roads surrounding the museum have been closed and blocked off with yellow tape. Several police cars and officers on horses surround the area.
Schlosser said park police SWAT teams are doing a secondary sweep of the building, but they don’t believe there is another gunman.
Sandy Perkins of Massachusetts said her daughter, Abigail, called her shortly after the shooting. The teen was on a school trip to the museum and told her mother students heard several shots before they were told to leave the building.
Abigail said some of her friends were very shaken, but all were otherwise fine, Sandy Perkins said.
The teens did not see where the shots were coming from.
Linda Elston, who is visiting the museum from Nevada City, Calif., says she was on the lower level of the museum watching a film when she and others were told to evacuate.
“It was totally full of people,” Elston said. “It took us awhile to get out.”
She said she didn’t hear any shots and didn’t immediately know why there was an evacuation leaving her feeling “a little anxious.”
This entry was posted
on Wednesday, June 10th, 2009 at 1:13 pm by Gary Stern.
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The world of religion, we don't have to tell you, is vast. The purpose of this blog is for Stern to note, flag and comment on some of the more interesting religious developments on the scene – weighty and quirky, somber and laughable, far away and just down the road. He won't interpret Scripture, take sides in conflicts or judge anyone. But he will take advantage of the journalist's license to observe.
