Crime & Safety

Connecticut Delegates Safe Following U.S. Capitol Lockdown

U.S. Rep. Elizabeth Esty (D-5), U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy (D) and U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D) utilized social media to let people know they were unharmed.

By Gary Jeanfaivre and Jessie Sawyer

Connecticut's Congressional delegates representing Farmington have taken to Twitter and Facebook to report that they are safe following a shooting outside the U.S. Capitol that led to a brief lockdown.

Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty (D-5), who represents Farmington in Connecticut's Fifth District, tweeted that she was safe after the lockdown was lifted Thursday afternoon.

"Lockdown has been lifted. Staff and I are safe," she tweeted. "Thank you Capitol Police for all you do to keep us safe today and every day."

She posted the same message on her Facebook page to let her constituents know she was okay.

U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy also reported being safe in a tweet just after 3 p.m. Thursday "Was just off the Senate floor when we were locked down. Thank you to the Capitol Police for your vigilance and keeping us safe every day," he tweeted.

Blumenthal tweeted this: "Everyone on my staff is safe. Thanks to Capitol Police and law enforcement who acted swiftly and bravely to protect all in danger."

U.S. Rep. Jim Himes, D-4, tweeted, "Staff is safe in my Cannon office. Capitol itself locked down. Thank you Capitol Police," 

Rosa DeLauro, D-3, tweeted: "Thanks to all the great Capitol Police officers keeping us us safe."

U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2, offered a similar tweet: 

"Thank you to the brave, talented & professional Capitol Police officers who protect us every day. #Heroes"

Connecticut's remaining delegate, John Larson, D-1, has not yet reported on their status.

Commenting on the safety of those other delegates, a staffer at Murphy's Connecticut office told Patch, "As far as I know everyone is safe."

The Capitol building was placed on lockdown just before 2:30 p.m., according to the Associated Press. 

The AP reports one Capitol police officer has been injured, and CNN reported the officer was air-lifted to the hospital. There were reports of multiple gunshots near the Senate Hart Office Building, and people were seen running, CNN reported.

Stay tuned to Georgetown Patch for further updates as the situation develops.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.