A man fired shots into the air and rammed his car into a barricade near the US Capitol in Washington before shooting himself as police approached.
An investigation has been launched by the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington after the apparent suicide at around 4am local time on Sunday (August 14).
A spokesperson for U.S Capitol Police claimed it did not seem to be an attack targeting members of Congress, but the force did not release any details about the man's identity or his motives in the incident.
After ramming the car into the barricade on East Capitol Street and Second Street, the man threw himself from the vehicle as it burst into flames.
He then fired several shots into the air along East Capitol Street but shot himself as police began to approach.
No one else was injured in the incident.
"At this time, it does not appear the man was targeting any members of Congress, who are on recess, and it does not appear officers fired their weapons," Capitol Police said.