1998 United States Capitol shooting

1998 United States Capitol shooting. The United States Capitol shooting occurred on July 24, 1998, when Russell Eugene Weston Jr. opened fire at the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C., killing two United States Capitol Police officers, Jacob Chestnut and John Gibson. This incident led to a significant increase in security measures at the Capitol Building, with the implementation of metal detectors and security checkpoints similar to those used at airports like John F. Kennedy International Airport and Los Angeles International Airport. The shooting also raised concerns about mental health and gun control, with National Rifle Association and American Civil Liberties Union weighing in on the debate.

Background

The United States Capitol has been the target of several attacks and plots, including the 1954 United States Capitol shooting and the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. In the years leading up to the 1998 shooting, there were concerns about domestic terrorism and lone wolf attacks, with incidents like the Oklahoma City bombing and the Unabomber attacks on University of California, Berkeley and Yale University. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Central Intelligence Agency were working to prevent such attacks, with the help of local law enforcement agencies like the New York City Police Department and the Los Angeles Police Department. The United States Secret Service was also involved in protecting high-profile targets like the President of the United States and the Vice President of the United States.

The Shooting

On July 24, 1998, Russell Eugene Weston Jr. entered the United States Capitol through a door on the north side of the building, near the Senate chamber. He was armed with a 9mm pistol and began shooting, killing Jacob Chestnut and John Gibson, two United States Capitol Police officers who were stationed at the security checkpoint. The shooting occurred near the Rotunda and the National Statuary Hall, with tourists and staff members fleeing the area in panic. The Capitol Police responded quickly, with officers like Lieutenant Ken Barrett and Sergeant Ariene Kim helping to subdue the shooter. The FBI and the DC Metropolitan Police Department also responded to the scene, with agents like Robert Mueller and Louis Freeh involved in the investigation.

Aftermath

The shooting led to a significant increase in security measures at the United States Capitol, with the implementation of metal detectors and security checkpoints similar to those used at airports like Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and O'Hare International Airport. The Capitol Police also increased their presence, with more officers stationed at the building and surrounding areas. The shooting also raised concerns about mental health and gun control, with organizations like the National Alliance on Mental Illness and the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence weighing in on the debate. The American Psychological Association and the National Institute of Mental Health also provided guidance on mental health issues related to the shooting.

Investigation

The FBI led the investigation into the shooting, with agents like Robert Mueller and Louis Freeh working to determine the motive and circumstances surrounding the incident. The DC Metropolitan Police Department and the United States Capitol Police also participated in the investigation, with officers like Lieutenant Ken Barrett and Sergeant Ariene Kim providing critical information. The investigation revealed that Russell Eugene Weston Jr. had a history of mental health issues and had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia by doctors at the National Institutes of Health and the University of Pennsylvania Health System. The investigation also found that Weston had been influenced by conspiracy theories and had a grudge against the government, with links to organizations like the Montana Freemen and the Posse Comitatus.

Perpetrator

Russell Eugene Weston Jr. was born on December 28, 1956, in Ilion, New York, and grew up in a middle-class family with parents who were high school graduates. He was educated at Ilion High School and later attended Mohawk Valley Community College, where he studied business administration. Weston had a history of mental health issues, with diagnoses of paranoid schizophrenia and bipolar disorder from doctors at the Mayo Clinic and the Cleveland Clinic. He was also known to have a grudge against the government, with links to organizations like the Militia movement and the Sovereign citizen movement. The FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated Weston's background and found that he had purchased the 9mm pistol used in the shooting from a gun store in Virginia, with help from gun rights organizations like the National Rifle Association.