Driver fires gunshots in air after crashing burning car at US Capitol, police say

A man crashed a flaming car into barriers outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C., then fired several gunshots into the air, Capitol police reported.

The man shot and killed himself when officers approached him just after 4 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 14, police said in a news release.

No one else was injured and it does not appear the driver was targeting Congress, which is not in session.

The incident took place at East Capitol Street and Second Street, police said. It does not appear that police officers fired their weapons.

Police identified the driver as Richard A. York III, 29, of Delaware, The Washington Post reported.

At a news conference later Sunday, US Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger said the man had a criminal history from “over the past 10 years or so,” but had “no political ideology that we’re aware of at this point,” CNN reported.

The incident comes days after Ricky W. Shiffer, 42, of Columbus, Ohio, was shot and killed after trying to breach the FBI’s Cincinnati field office, CNN reported.

He fled with law enforcement in pursuit on Thursday, Aug. 11, the network reported. Officers shot and killed him as he barricaded himself behind his vehicle in a cornfield.

This story was originally published August 14, 2022 at 10:25 AM.