A quiet Saturday afternoon on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol was disrupted by a sudden act of a 22-year-old male named Leo Thornton. On April 11, 2015, Thornton, who was from Lincolnwood, Illinois, traveled to Washington, D.C., and took his own life by a self-inflicted gunshot. The U.S. Capitol Police immediately responded to the incident, locking down the Capitol Building and the visitor center as a precautionary measure.
Initial reports from the scene were chaotic, with law
enforcement working to secure the area and understand the nature of the event. Along with a backpack and a rolling suitcase, Thornton had a sign with him that reportedly carried a message about social justice, with some witnesses stating it read, 'Tax the one percent.' The presence of these items prompted an investigation by a bomb squad to ensure there was no further threat to the public or the Capitol. Authorities later confirmed that the packages were not hazardous.
The investigation into Thornton's death concluded that he acted alone and that his death was a suicide. Consequently, there were no suspects sought by law enforcement, and no arrests were made in connection with the incident. The event was not linked to any act of terrorism. Following the initial lockdown and investigation, the U.S. Capitol was reopened to the public, though the incident left a somber note on what had been a busy day in the nation's capital, with many visitors in town for the annual Cherry Blossom Festival.
