The Maryland State Capitol and neighboring Capitol buildings were locked down for nearly two hours Thursday night after police in Annapolis were alerted to a man approaching the Capitol building with a gun.
The lockdown began around 5 p.m., and although law enforcement officials issued a “total lift” on the state Capitol and three nearby buildings at 6:52 p.m., the intervening time was filled with tension, uncertainty, and People working in or visiting the legislature, depending on where they were and what they were told, were marked by varying levels of anxiety.
Gov. Wes Moore (D), Lt. Gov. Aluna Miller (D), and Senate President Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore) were in the state Capitol at the time of the lockdown. House Speaker Adrian A. Jones (D-Baltimore County) had left the building moments earlier.
Police closed off State Circle surrounding the state Capitol and nearby streets around 5 p.m.
Nick Cavey, a spokesman for the Maryland Department of General Services, which oversees the Maryland Capitol Police, said in a statement that Annapolis police “received a report of a person threatening to target the Maryland State Capitol. A lockdown has been ordered.”
“The Annapolis Police Department immediately notified the Maryland State Capitol Police, Maryland State Police, Anne Arundel County Police Department, and House and Senate building security personnel of the potential threat,” Cavey's statement said. Ta. “Within minutes of receiving information, the Maryland State Capitol Police locked down the Maryland State Capitol, the Executive Branch, and the House and Senate buildings and issued law enforcement instructions to residents, including shelter-in-place.” I instructed them to follow.”
However, the lockdown orders were spread unevenly, and little information was officially released during and after the lockdown was in place.
At 5:36 p.m., Mr. Moore's press secretary, Carter Elliott IV, issued the following statement: “The Maryland State Capitol is currently on lockdown due to a security threat. We have no other information at this time.
“Staff, personnel, and community members on the premises should shelter in place and listen to instructions from available members of the Capitol Police and law enforcement agencies.”
Reporters working in the press room in the basement of the state Capitol were alerted by Jeremy P. Baker, Jones' chief of staff, that a gunman might be in the building around 5 p.m. It was recommended that it be locked. Others working in the basement of the Capitol received similar frantic warnings as rifle-wielding police officers passed by. The eight people in the press room locked the doors, turned off the lights, and huddled on the floor.
News of the emergency spread more slowly to the House and Senate buildings, where several legislative committees were holding hearings.
“The Maryland State Capitol Police coordinated the cleaning of the State Capitol, Senate, and House buildings and surrounding grounds in accordance with protocol and determined that the area is safe and no potential threats exist,” Cavey said. said in a statement. “The lockdown and shelter in place were lifted at 6:52 p.m., and all remaining occupants, including the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Senate President, were escorted from the building in accordance with situational protocols.”
After the weather cleared, the governor headed across the street to Government House, the governor's official residence, where he was joined by mayors from around the state for a reception scheduled to begin at 5 p.m., Moore's spokesman Elliott said. It is said that several people had gathered.
“Our family would like to thank the Maryland State Capitol Police, Maryland State Police, Annapolis Police Department, and Anne Arundel County Police Department for securing the Capitol grounds and keeping us safe today.” Moore said in a statement Thursday evening. The area was declared safe. “These brave men and women are not only Maryland's finest, they are Maryland's promise. They define what it means to be a Marylander.”
However, not all mayors arrived at the reception before the lockdown order was issued.
Rockville Mayor Monique Ashton was standing outside the Government House gates shortly after 5 p.m. waiting to enter the mayor's reception when security guards rushed her out of the building. He said he was taken to the Royers Mall across the street. House.
Ashton was then part of a group taken to the Lowe House Building and led to the delegation room in Baltimore City, where about two dozen people, including state House staff, student Pages and journalists, were asked to wait. They ended up staying there for about an hour.
“Today's situation was not what we expected,” Ashton said.
Several members of the Anne Arundel County Police Department's Crisis Intervention Unit were offering counseling to people in the delegation room in Baltimore City.
Across the street in the Miller Senate Office Building, the Finance Committee continued its lengthy vote, while committee members gradually learned about the lockdown.
Business continued as usual for about an hour.
At 6:20, the security guard quietly locked the door to the committee room. Senators continued to work without publicly acknowledging the situation.
At 6:30, the voting session ended and security officials announced that the committee room was placed on lockdown. Most of the hearing attendees and senators had already heard about the lockdown through social media and word of mouth, so there was little surprise.
“For the time being, unfortunately, yes, we will not allow you to leave,” the security guard told those in attendance.
“You are not allowed to leave,” she instructed committee members. “We are all protected here.”
Some lawmakers cracked jokes, and Sen. Antonio Hayes (D-Baltimore) and Sen. Ben Cramer (D-Montgomery) began handing out snacks while they waited.
At approximately 6:50 p.m., members of the Senate Finance Committee were removed from the room, but visitors were required to remain in place. At 6:55 p.m., everyone was allowed to leave the Miller Senate Office Building.
Despite the 'absolutely clear' notice, a heavy police presence remained on the premises for some time after 7pm
After all was revealed, Senate President Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore City) and House Speaker Adrian A. Jones (D-Baltimore County) issued statements and thanked the law enforcement officers who responded. expressed his gratitude.
“We and everyone else in the Legislature appreciate their presence as we continue to serve our people,” they said.
However, some members said in private conversations and on social media that they were not informed of the incident by the Speaker during or for a long time afterwards. Similarly, staff in the House and Senate offices were not notified or given clear instructions.
There is no text alert system for people who work in the Legislature.
Second security incident this year
Thursday's incident is the second public threat made against the state Legislature during this year's legislative session.
In January, an unidentified person made a bomb threat against the state Capitol. The threat came on the same day other states received threatening emails alleging explosives had been placed at other Capitol buildings.
The threats against the Maryland General Assembly and other state legislatures around the country were unfounded.
Thursday's lockdown comes during a typically busy day just past the halfway point of the 90-day General Assembly session, with hundreds of elected officials, staff, advocates, journalists and visitors waiting. Ta.
The day also coincided with “Read Across America Day,” a day to honor educators and celebrate the birthday of Theodore Geisel, known as Dr. Seuss.
A person wearing a life-sized Big Bird costume roamed the Capitol throughout the morning, taking photos with lawmakers and others inside the building.
While the lockdown was underway, Rep. Stephanie Smith (D-Baltimore City) posted a photo of herself with Big Bird on X, formerly known as Twitter, describing the anxious atmosphere. .
“I started celebrating reading with Big Bird today, but now I'm sheltering in place at the State Capitol in Annapolis,” she wrote. “Life moves fast. We don't know what's going on, but we hope for a quick and peaceful resolution.”
Maryland's state capitol is the oldest still operating in the United States. This building was once the home of the Continental Congress. General George Washington resigned from the Continental Army Committee on the floor of what is now the historic Senate chamber. The resignation is seen as an example of a peaceful transition of power in a newly independent country. The original handwritten resignation speech by Washington is on display in the building's Rotunda.
This bulletin has been updated.