Shots Fired Near U.S. Capitol After Driver Rams Police Cruiser

(Updated 11:20 a.m.): WASHINGTON, DC — A woman is in custody after she allegedly rammed her car into a police cruiser near the U.S. Capitol and then tried to run over several officers guarding the area on foot, according to reports.

The incident occurred at 9:22 a.m. at the 100 block of Independence Avenue when Capitol police officers saw an "erratic and aggressive driver" and tried to stop the vehicle, Eva Malecki, the communications director for the U.S. Capitol Police, said.

When officers tried to stop the driver, the woman made a U-turn and fled the scene near the Botanical Gardens, according to ABC News.

A brief police chase occurred until officers were able to stop the driver at Third Street and Independence Avenue. The woman was in custody by 9:45 a.m.

At some point gunshots were fired, but no one was struck. It's not clear who fired the shots, and officials have not clarified the exact details yet.

Malecki said the shots were fired in the process of an arrest, The Washington Post reports.

ABC News reports that the gun shots were fired by Capitol Police in an attempt to stop the driver.

Malecki said the incident "appears to be criminal with no nexis to terrorism" and that there is "no sense of motive."

A heavy police presence responded to the scene, and Independence Avenue between Washington Avenue SW and First Street SE was closed. The road is now open, as well as the Capitol building.

This is a developing story. Check back for more details.

Photo: RJ Schmidt/Flickr