US Capitol Police (USCP) are investigating after a man drove into a barricade at East Capitol and Second Streets in the early morning hours of Aug. 14. The vehicle burst into flames. The man fired several shots into the air before turning the gun on himself.
On Sunday afternoon, USCP identified the man as 29-year old Richard A. York III of Delaware. They say it is still not clear why he chose to drive to the Capitol Complex.
The car hit the barricade just after 4:00 a.m.. Police said the car was “engulfed in flames” as York, who was apparently driving, exited. He then fired several shots into the air along East Capitol Street.
“When our officers heard the sound of gunfire, they immediately responded and were approaching the man when he shot himself,” USCP said in a press release.
Nobody else was hurt.
USCP it did not appear that York was targeting Members of Congress, who are on recess. Officers apparently did not fire their weapons. USCP said investigators are looking into his background.
DC’s Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is handling the death investigation and said there was no further information at this time.
