Pentagon shot at, authorities investigate

This post has been updated.

Authorities Tuesday searched for a gunman who fired shots at the Pentagon in the early morning hours, possibly using a high-powered rifle. No one was injured.

The shots were fired shortly before 5 a.m., shattering, but not penetrating, windows on the third and fourth floors, officials said. They also said the walls of the building may have been struck.

“Right now, we are considering this a random event,” said Pentagon Force Protection Agency director Steven E. Calvery. “We can only process what we have.”

Federal and local authorities spent the morning searching for evidence, closing the adjacent Interstate 395 for a brief time and combing through grassy areas. The FBI also was examining bullet fragments lodged in the windows.

Officials said they think a high-velocity rifle was used, but they were not certain. Two windows were hit, but officials do not know precisely how man shots were fired.

The Joint Terrorism Task Force is taking the lead in the investigation, authorities said.

-- Christy Goodman and Maria Glod

11:31 a.m.

Someone fired shots at the Pentagon early Tuesday, hitting the building and causing minor damage, defense officials said.

Police who protect the massive Defense Department headquarters temporarily locked down some road and pedestrian entrances to the building after a civilian reported he may have heard shots at about 5 a.m. on the south side of the facility.

A sweep of the area and facility found that some shots had hit the building, Marine Col. Dave Lapan, a Pentagon spokesman said. He didn’t know how many or from what kind of weapon.

Roads and pedestrian entrances leading to the Pentagon were reopened a little after 5:30 a.m. but part of nearby highway 395 was later temporarily closed for part of the investigation.

The Pentagon Force Protection Agency is scheduled to hold a news conference 11:30 a.m. Tuesday to talk about the shooting incident this morning. (washington post)

===============================================================