Twitter a mass of confusion as Capitol Hill shooting unfolds
A half-hour crisis at the Capitol resulted in conflicting reports and uncertainty about whether Capitol Police officers were working for pay or without it.
The incident prompted a lockdown at the Capitol and the surrounding offices at just about 2:18 p.m. Eastern time, which led to frantic reports on Twitter, many of them from members of the media:
Literally was dragged in by cop as he heard shots fired come over the radio. Now this: pic.twitter.com/K1AJwIEV6G
— KateNocera (@KateNocera) October 3, 2013
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi was a tad calmer:
All Members and staff, we are in temporary lockdown as Capitol police work quickly to secure the area. Please stay safe.
— Nancy Pelosi (@NancyPelosi) October 3, 2013
As the lockdown continued, quite a few commentators began discussing the pay status of the Capitol Police officers dealing with the incident. Slate economics writer Matt Yglesias initially stated the officers were working without pay during the ongoing government shutdown:
Capitol Police responding to shooting incident are working without pay today.
— Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias) October 3, 2013
Then corrected himself:
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