A domestic dispute resulted in a shooting and stabbing, shutting down one of the biggest train stations in America in the process. Union Station, just blocks away from Capitol Hill, was evacuated for a time on the afternoon of September 11 after a security guard shot a suspect in the food hall of the station.
This is a breaking story so stay tuned for updates.
Here’s what we know so far:
1. There Were Early, Erroneous Reports of an ‘Active Shooter’ at the Station
Here’s Union Station now from my office. Lots of police + fire activity there now. DC police say no active shooter. http://t.co/g85s1osn0y
The Washington D.C. Police Department tweeted that reports of an “active shooter” were erroneous.
The Washington Post reports that a security guard shot a man inside the station. The guard had to wrestle with the man after he chased him through the food court, reports WTOP.
2. The Suspect Has Non-Life Threatening Injuries
NBC Washington reports that the shooting was the result of a domestic dispute between a couple. That dispute resulting in a stabbing that happened at the securities and exchange commission, not at the station, according to My Fox D.C. The suspect has been rushed to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries. NBC Washington reports that he was shot in the chest. The woman’s, described as the man’s girlfriend, stab wounds have been described as “minor.”
3. The Gunfire Broke Out Inside the McDonald’s in the Station
I was about to enter union station heading back to New York when the station was evacuated. Reports of gunshots. http://t.co/zgKIsJoIcw
The shooting happened at the McDonald’s inside the station. The location is on street level in the station by the Eastside Train Concourse.
Read More About This Incident on Heavy’s Spanish Language Site
4. The Incident Caused Minor Delays
Traffic flowing outside Union Station http://t.co/tkNDo2h2UD
The incident caused minor delays at the station, the Metro being unaffected and the Virginia Railway Express only being briefly suspended.
5. Around 5 Million Passengers Per Year Go Through the Station
(Getty)
Around five million people pass through the station every year. The building is home to Amtrak’s headquarters and is served by them, the VRE and the Maryland Area Regional Commuter train. Amtrak operates some 85 trains per day in and out of union station, with some 5 million passengers per year boarding or leaving from there, according to a 2014 Amtrak fact sheet.