Man Kills Himself At U.S. Capitol After Ramming Car Into Barricade, Opening Fire

An armed man reportedly rammed his vehicle into a barricade near the U.S. Capitol before proceeding to open fire and then shooting himself to death in Washington D.C. on early Sunday morning, Aug. 14.

The man, identified as 29-year-old Richard Aaron York III, who hails from Dagsboro, Delaware, reportedly crashed his car into the barricades at the East Capitol and Second streets just after 4 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 14, the Daily Beast reported.

After plowing his vehicle into the barricades, as the man got out of the car, the vehicle became engulfed in flames. The man then proceeded to fire several gunshots into the air along East Capitol Street. When officers heard the sounds of gunfire, they immediately responded to the scene and approached the man. However, before the officers could reach him, York turned the gun on himself and shot himself dead.

No one else was injured in the incident.

“At this time, it does not appear the man was targeting any Members of Congress, who are on recess, and it does not appear officers fired their weapons.” United States Capitol Police (USCP) said in their statement.

The officers added that they have not determined a motive for the man’s actions and that it remains unclear why he chose to drive to the Capitol Complex.

The officers from the Washington, D.C. Metro Police forces are handling the investigation into the man's death, the Guardian reported

Meanwhile, Capitol Police Chief Thomas Manger said that the individual may have started the fire himself as he was getting out of the car.

“We do know that the subject has a criminal history over the past ten years or so, but nothing that at this point would link him to anything here at the Capitol,” Manger added.

Manger added that the suspect’s background is being reviewed for signs of a possible motive in the attack.

York was previously accused of choking and assaulting his pregnant girlfriend a decade ago. He was also charged with breaking into a pharmacy in 2017 to steal controlled substances. In addition to these, York also had prior convictions for disorderly conduct, terroristic threats and assault, and possession of controlled substances.