WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 05: The U.S. Supreme Court is seen on October 05, 2021 in Washington, DC. The Court is holding in-person arguments for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
A person was airlifted from the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court after they reportedly set themselves on fire, according to a court spokesperson.
Supreme Court spokesperson Patricia McCabe said in a statement to outlets that the event took place around 6:30 p.m. Friday on the plaza in front of the Supreme Court building, after which the person was airlifted to an area hospital.
The Supreme Court Police, U.S. Capitol Police, and the D.C. police had responded to the incident. No one else was injured, and there was no threat to public safety, McCabe told outlets.
“The area remains closed for further investigation, but this is not a public safety issue,” she said in a statement.
The Capitol Police announced on Twitter around 6:40 p.m., “A medical helicopter just landed near the Capitol for a medical emergency. This is not a public safety issue.”
The Capitol is located across the street from the Supreme Court.
The incident comes after a shooting in Washington, D.C., where multiple people were hit. Police has not arrested a suspect but has identified a person of interest linked to the shooting.
The Capitol complex had been briefly evacuated late on Wednesday. The Federal Aviation Administration said it had failed to notify the Capitol Police of a plane headed there. The plane was from the U.S. Army; the Golden Knights parachute team was set to skydive from the plane into a Washington Nationals baseball game at Nationals Park, for Military Appreciation Night. Capitol Police later said there was no threat to the Capitol building.
