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Posts Tagged ‘Gunman Opened Fire’

Breaking: Attack on the Pentagon? Gunman Injures Two Police Officers; UPDATE: Shooter Identified and in Custody: John Patrick Bedell.

Thursday, March 4th, 2010

An unidentified gunman injured two police officers today at the Pentagon.

With little detail yet available, it appears that a unidentified gunman has shot two police officers in front of the Pentagon today, and the gunman appears to be in custody. ABC News reports:

ABC’s Steven Portnoy reported that Pentagon police had a suspect in custody. ABC’s Martha Raddatz reported that three ambulances were on the scene, and all parking lots at the massive Defense Department headquarters were closed off.

The shooting occurred at the Pentagon Metro Station, which is just outside the Pentagon’s main entrance.

The shots were fired at about 6:30 p.m. ET.

Pentagon Police spokesman Chris Layman told ABC News the initial report was that two police officers were shot. But local television station WUSA reported three people were injured. Two were taken to George Washington Hospital in Washington, the station said.

“All I know right now is that there was a shooting. We believe two officers, police officers, were hit. And I believe we have one person in custody,” Layman told ABC News.

With the President focused on pushing through his comprehensive health care reform plan, this Pentagon shooting could prove to be an unwelcome distraction for a Presidency already struggling mightily with its signature initiative. Our thoughts are with the officers involved and the families of all those who may have been hurt today at the Pentagon.

UPDATE: The gunman who shot two officers earlier today in front of the Pentagon has been identified as John Patrick Bedell, as noted by Hotair. Fox News has the details:

A gunman opened fire at the subway entrance to the Pentagon complex Thursday evening, wounding two Pentagon police officers before he was shot and taken into custody, officials said.

The motive for the shooting in suburban Washington, D.C., wasn’t immediately clear, but Fox News confirmed the gunman was identified as 36-year-old John Patrick Bedell.

A second person was being questioned by authorities, but sources say that person may just be a witness and not considered a suspect .

The man was calm as he approached the officers at the main entrance around 6:40 p.m., Pentagon Police Chief Richard Keevil said at a news conference. The officers asked to see his pass to enter the building; he started shooting without saying a word.

“He reached into his pocket and they assumed he was going to get out his pass and he just started shooting,” Keevil said. The officers were only “grazed” and immediately fired back.

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