Young guy w/ napsack grabbed napsack off of xray conveyor belt when revolver spotted and bolted into the building.
Halloween costume... _________ Capitol Police End Search, Citing Toy Gun House Staffers With Halloween Costumes Trigger Security Response By Mary Dalrymple Associated Press Thursday, October 30, 2003; 3:52 PM The House of Representatives was ordered shut down Thursday following a reported security breach at a nearby congressional office building, but police swiftly determined that a plastic revolver and Halloween costume were to blame. U.S. Capitol Police Chief Terence Gainer said "two staff members bringing in Halloween costumes" were responsible. "I don't think they had any ill intent," he said, adding he expected no charges would be filed. Start to finish, the incident lasted two hours or less -- but it instantly triggered a massive security response in an age of terrorism as police in battle gear moved into the House Office Cannon building in pursuit of suspects. Across the street, the House was placed into an unscheduled recess for the first time since the aftermath of September 11, 2001. Gainer said the staff aides had stopped to chat with security personnel after placing a bag on a security station X-ray belt at the entrance to the office building, then went into their building. Moments later, security officials noticed the image of a gun, and triggered an alarm. Gainer said the two staff aides are "very sorry this all happened," and the security personnel had performed "well within standards." Gainer was still fielding questions from reporters when the bells rang in the House side of the Capitol, indicating that lawmakers were being called back into session. The preceding two hours were anything but routine, though, as the perceived security breach triggered an immediate massive response. Police invaded the office building, mounting a room-by-room search for the suspect or suspects in the case. Two or three officers were quickly stationed at the underground entrances to the Capitol from each of several House office building. Outdoors, security barriers were raised to prevent vehicles from approaching buildings in the Capitol complex. Police in SWAT gear also materialized. The incident triggered memories of a far more lethal incident on July 24, 1998, when a man with a history of mental illness rushed into the Capitol and killed two security guards. The accused shooter, Russell E. Weston Jr., is awaiting trial. In the chaotic moments after Thursday's incident, the congressman who chairs the committee overseeing House administration procedures told reporters the image seen by security personnel "could be a toy gun." "But it could be real," said Rep. Bob Ney, R-Ohio. Then, a twist. One lawmaker, whom Gainer did not name, had contacted Capitol police to report that his aides were the two people authorities were looking for. Security personnel raced to the office and learned about the costume and toy gun. "I don't think anybody was trying to trick anybody. I think it was just an unusual set of Halloween circumstances that unfolded on us," he said. The names of the two staff aides were not disclosed. Rep. Philip Crane, R-Ill., chairing a committee meeting at the time the incident occurred, interrupted the hearing to announce that the alert had been lifted. "It was a Halloween prank. A very stupid thing for whoever did it," he said.
I think he was trying to make a joke... whoever's not here is not here because they're going crazy with a pistol.
