On Tuesday morning the Pentagon Force Protection Agency confirmed that a Pentagon police officer was killed in an incident at the Metro bus platform outside the building. The investigators of the incident believe that there was an argument in which the suspect stabbed the Pentagon police officer.
According to law enforcement sources, it appears that there has been a tussle over the Pentagon officer’s weapon. The sources said the suspect was fatally shot.
A federal official confirmed that the identity of the suspect was Austin Lanz of Georgia. He was a 27-year-old who enlisted in the Marine Corps in October 2012 but was “administratively separated” in the month of November that year, never earning the title of Marine.
During a press conference, Pentagon Force Protection Agency’s chief Woodrow Kusse told reporters that the attack occurred around 10:37 in the morning. The officers were alerted that an “incident was underway,” by a radio call.
Kusse said the incident resulted in “several casualties.” The Pentagon went into a lockdown for roughly an hour because of the shooting event. He informed that the FBI will lead the investigation and now since the incident is over; there is no threat to the community. No further details were provided on the casualties by Kusse. He did not even confirm the death of the pentagon police officer. He also refused to provide information on the suspect.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin extended his condolences to the family of the Pentagon police officer who died on Tuesday. He said the police officer died in the line of duty. The Pentagon Force Protection Agency requested the public just after 11 in the morning to avoid the area.
Austin and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley were at the White House when the incident in Pentagon took place. The Pentagon police on Twitter urged everyone to stay away from the areas near the Metro rail entrance and bus platform area. Nearly after an hour, the lockdown at Pentagon was lifted and the facility reopened.