USA: WASHINGTON: CAPITOL HILL SHOOTING: CAPITOL REOPENS TO TOURISTS

Описание: (25 Jul 1998) English/Nat

Flags are at half mast in Washington D-C as the U-S capital comes to terms with a gun battle at the political heart of the nation.

Suspect Russell Weston, who has been formally charged with murder, remains in critical condition at DC General Hospital in Washington.

Two police officers died in the shootout.

But a tourist also wounded in the attack has been released from hospital.

Seventeen hours after the deadly shootout the U-S Capitol was reopened to tourists.

Flags at the Capitol are flying at half-mast as people bring flowers to remember the two policemen killed in the attack - Jacob Chestnut, 58, and John Gibson, 42.

They were both 18-year veterans of the Capitol police force.

Investigators are trying to learn how and why a gunman burst into the Capitol, filled with lawmakers and tourists, and opened fire before being shot and captured.

Dozens of bouquets of flowers, some with messages, others with tiny American flags, were brought to the steps where the shooting occurred.

Some flowers were left by ordinary citizens, others by Capitol Hill police.

Following Friday's incident, some people called for stronger security measures around the Capitol.

Members of Congress have promised to take another look at security in the building, though they're also promising to keep the building accessible to the public.

This is the hallway where Russell Weston was brought down after killing the two police officers.

Many believe that this building serves as a cornerstone of democracy and should always remain open to the public.

It's an old conflict, safety versus the openness that democracy demands.

But America's gun culture is starting to resemble a culture of violence - this year's tally of shootings has even seen pupils kill their classmates in school.

And as the number of shooting sprees mounts so does the pressure for stricter gun controls.

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