A gunman opened fire outside the Metro Entrance of the Pentagon at 6:40 pm Thursday, grazing two Pentagon police officers who returned fire, critically wounding the shooter.
The suspect’s name is John Patrick Bedell, sources tell Fox News Justice Producer Mike Levine. Fox has also learned that authorities are questioning a second person, who at this point is not considered a suspect.
Pentagon Chief of Police, Richard Keevill, described the suspect as a U.S. citizen who calmly approached officers at the badge checkpoint, reached into his pocket — pulled out a handgun and started shooting. A witness on the scene who spoke to Fox said as many as 20 shots were fired in the exchange.
Both the injured officers and the suspect were taken to nearby George Washington Hospital. The officers are said to be in good condition with non life-threatening injuries, according to a statement from the Pentagon. One Pentagon official told Fox the suspect was shot in the head.
The Pentagon’s Metro entrance, located about 150 yards from the entrance to the underground Metrorail, is the most used and most heavily guarded entrance to the building. According to Chief Keevill, the suspect did not make it past the first layer of security. He said officers were caught off guard because when he reached into his pocket they assumed he was going for his badge — which is required at all entry points to the Pentagon. Instead, he pulled out a gun and started shooting.