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WASHINGTON [CBS] — At least two people were shot when a gunman opened fire at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. Wednesday, authorities said.

D.C. police spokeswoman Traci Hughes said a person walked into the museum with a rifle and shot a guard. Hughes says the shooter was also shot.

At Least 2 Shot At Holocaust Museum

WASHINGTON [CBS] — At least two people were shot when a gunman opened fire at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. Wednesday, authorities said.

D.C. police spokeswoman Traci Hughes said a person walked into the museum with a rifle and shot a guard. Hughes says the shooter was also shot.

The suspect was in police custody and the weapon was recovered, officials told CBS News correspondent Bob Orr.

Hughes says the victims’ conditions were not known. Both were being taken to a hospital.

U.S. Park Police gave slightly different information, saying three people had been shot.

The museum normally has a heavy security presence with guards positioned both inside and outside the museum. All visitors are required to pass through metal detectors at the entrance, and bags are screened.

The museum, located just off the National Mall near the Washington Monument, is a popular tourist attraction. It draws about 1.7 million visitors each year.

The Israeli Embassy said it plans to issue a statement later Wednesday.

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7 Comments

  • wondering

    if they had all these “protections”, then why did they let this guy in?????

  • Adam Curry

    Interesting how the media is already reporting that it was an “89 year old white male”, yet if it had been an arab or immigrant it would have been a case of “the police have not yet have not yet released the identification of the shooter” for the next 2 weeks……..

  • thats strange...

    thats strange…. i went the with my class for our 8th grade trip, and they make u go through security…… how could he have got in with a gun

  • cher

    there’s a lot of security there and still shooting happened u can’t even bring a cell phone in there how did they let a gun?