Woman Dead After Chaotic Capitol Car Chase

A woman who struck a security barrier with her car near the White House took police on a high-speed chase through Washington, D.C., ending with officers opening fire and shooting her to death near the U.S. Capitol earlier Thursday afternoon.

CBS News' Bob Orr reports that at around 2 p.m., a black Infiniti coupe struck a barrier at 15th and E Sts. NW, one block from the White House. Officials don't know if she deliberately rammed the barrier or simply sideswiped it. The driver, a woman, then sped off, driving erratically east on Pennsylvania Ave. NW, toward the Capitol, with Secret Service officers in pursuit. A federal official tells CBS News that the pursuit was high-speed through busy city streets, and that the woman was weaving in and out of traffic and running red lights.

At 1st St. and Constitution Ave., NW, on Capitol Hill, she hit a police cruiser with a policeman inside. That officer was injured and his injuries are not life threatening, according to the U.S. Capitol Police. Another Secret Service officer was also injured, though Washington, D.C. police chief Cathy Lanier said his injuries are not serious.

Shortly thereafter, at 2nd St. and Maryland Ave., NE, she jumped a curb and stopped her vehicle, leaving a child behind in the car and attempted to flee the scene, according to the federal official. Multiple officers then fired multiple gunshots; the woman was hit by gunfire and died, Orr reports.

U.S. Capitol Police Chief Kim Dine told reporters that there is no information to indicate the incident was an act of terrorism or anything other than an isolated incident.

The U.S. Capitol was put on lockdown after the gunshots fired and the area was put on high alert. Those inside the Capitol were told to shelter in place until the order was lifted close to 3 p.m.

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