Police Officer Fatally Stabbed At Pentagon Transit Facility

Updated Tuesday, 8:55 p.m. ET: This story was updated with information about Austin William Lanz.

WASHINGTON, DC — A police officer was fatally stabbed Tuesday morning by a Georgia man during a burst of violence at the mass transit center that serves the Pentagon outside of Washington, D.C.

Around 10:37 a.m., a Pentagon Force Protection Agency officer was stabbed on the platform of the Pentagon Transit Center and an exchange of gunfire occurred, according to PFPA Chief Woody Kusse, during a Tuesday afternoon news conference.

Officials quickly put the Pentagon on lockdown and multiple law enforcement agencies responded to the scene after receiving reports of the sound of gunfire coming from the area of the transit center.

PFPA later confirmed that it was one of the agency's own officers who was fatally stabbed at the transit center, according to a post on the department's official Twitter account.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the Officer’s family. Additional info on the officer will be forthcoming, following full next of kin notification," the tweet said.

@PFPAOfficial mourns the tragic loss of a Pentagon Police Officer killed during this morning’s incident at the Pentagon. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Officer’s family. Additional info on the officer will be forthcoming, following full next of kin notification.
— Pentagon Force Protection Agency (Official) (@PFPAOfficial) August 3, 2021

The assailant, who was identified Tuesday night by multiple law enforcement officials as Austin William Lanz, 27, of Georgia, was shot by law enforcement officers and died at the scene, the Associated Press reported.

Lanz ambushed the officer, stabbing him in the neck, law enforcement officers told AP on the condition of anonymity. Responding officers then shot and killed Lanz.

Investigators are looking into Lanz's background, including whether he had a history of mental illness or a motive for targeting the Pentagon or police officers.

AP quoted a U.S. Marine Corps statement that said Lanz had enlisted in the corps in October 2012, but was “administratively separated” less than a month later, meaning he never earned the title of Marine.

Related: Cobb Man Who Fatally Stabbed Pentagon Officer Had Troubled Past

Online court records say that Lanz was arrested in April in Cobb County, Georgia, on criminal trespassing and burglary charges, AP reported. On the same day, six additional charges were filed against him, including two counts of aggravated battery on police, one count of making a terrorist threat, and another count of rioting in a penal institution, according to AP.

Lanz was released in May after a judge reduced his bond to $30,000, AP reported. The release included conditions that Lanz not ingest illegal drugs and that he would undergo a mental health evaluation.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III ordered all flags at the Pentagon to fly at half-mast in honor of the officer.

"This fallen officer died in the line of duty, helping protect the tens of thousands of people who work in — and who visit — the Pentagon on a daily basis," Austin said, in a statement. "He and his fellow officers are members of the Pentagon family, and known to us all as professional, skilled and brave. This tragic death today is a stark reminder of the dangers they face and the sacrifices they make. We are forever grateful for that service and the courage with which it is rendered."

Austin also expressed his concern's for the officer's family and asked that the investigation into the incident to continue unimpeded without speculation.

"In the meantime, we will keep the family of our fallen officer — and his fellow officers — foremost in our mind and provide them whatever support they require," he said. "I know nothing we can say will properly assuage their grief, but I hope they know we mourn with them."

Austin and Joint Chiefs Chair Gen. Mark Milley were not at The Pentagon at the time of the shooting, according to Fox5 news. They were attending their regular Tuesday morning meeting at the White House.

Kusse confirmed the FBI was on the scene of the investigation at the transit center. Since the incident remained under investigation, he wouldn't confirm whether the suspect had died, been injured, or was in custody.

Several people were injured due to the attack and taken to area hospitals for treatment, but Kusse would not confirm how many people had been injured.

Scanner audio from the time of the shooting said that one officer was down, with injuries to their neck and possibly head, according to a tweet from investigative reporter Jason Paladino. Two other patients were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Although the transit station remains a crime scene, Kusse said there is no threat to the public at this time.

"We are not concerned about a continuing threat," he said.

Prior to the news conference, some media outlets reported that another suspect had fed the scene. While Kusse acknowledged that those reports would be looked into as part of the ongoing investigation, he added: "We are not actively looking for another suspect at this time."

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told reporters he was not able to add to the scant information provided by Kusse.

"We can't and we won't simply react to press reporting and what anonymous officials out there are saying," he said. "We want to be very careful here."

A large police presence had gathered outside of George Washington University Hospital around 1:32 p.m., in Washington, D.C., according to multiple news outlets. One or more shooting victims were taken to the hospital for treatment of their injuries.

Metropolitan Police Department officers had temporarily closed off 23rd Street for about three blocks from Washington Circle Park, according to a tweet from WUSA9 reporter Jess Arnold.

The lockdown at the Pentagon was lifted around 12:15 p.m., and the building was reopened, according to a PFPA tweet. "Corridor 2 and the Metro entrance remains closed. Corridor 3 is open for pedestrian traffic."

Police confirmed that shots were first fired around 10:38 a.m., according to WTOP reporter Megan Cloherty. Arlington Fire and Rescue told her they had transported all of the victims to area hospitals.

At 12 noon, PFPA issued the following statement via Tweet: "The scene of the incident is secure. It is still an active crime scene. We request that everyone stay away from the Metro rail entrance and bus platform area. Transportation at the Pentagon is diverted to Pentagon City."

Related: Metro Suspends Bus, Rail Service To Pentagon Station

Metrorail and Metrobus service to the Pentagon was suspended indefinitely to allow for the police investigation to continue, according to a post on Metro's official Twitter account. Both the Blue and Yellow Metrorail lines and numerous Metrobus routes were diverted from the Pentagon Station. Metro is providing shuttle buses were necessary.

An Arlington County Police Department source told Lindsay Watts, a reporter with Fox5, that a police officer had been injured near the Metro Station platform, according to a tweet. The officer was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Arlington County Police directed people to avoid the area around the Pentagon Metro Station during the lockdown, according to a tweet.

ARLNow and the Associated Press first reported that there was an active shooter at the Metrobus platform and that the Pentagon is on lockdown.

The Associated Press contributed to the reporting of this story.