04:21 PM CDT on Friday, May 26, 2006

By Jim Fry / 11 News

There was chaos and confusion on Capitol Hill Friday when somebody called police to report gunfire.

The incident provoked a massive police response and for several hours, parts of the Capitol were in lockdown.

Police raced into high alert around the capitol with their radios blasting, “Capitol police are investigating the sound of gunfire in the garage level of the Rayburn House office building.”

The tip came from an anonymous caller.

People in the garage were hustled out. The office building and the Capitol—sealed off and locked down.

Inside people heard the public address announcement,” Please close the doors.”

The incident forced the House Intelligence chairman to interrupt his hearing.

Lawmakers and staff received an email telling them what to do.  That didn’t sit well with U.S. Representative Peter Hoekstra, “It’s a little unsettling to get a blackberry message put in

front of you that says there’s gunfire in the building.”

The Senate stayed in session while police searched the garage, looking for witnesses.

“I’m here to do a debriefing to see what anyone has seen, heard, smelled, “ said Detective Mark Crawford with the U.S. Capitol Police.

Police didn’t find anyone nor any weapons.

The disruption lasted hours as police suited up to root out a possible gunman.

“We’re going door to door, floor by floor, every inch, ever square inch of the Rayburn building is going to be cleared out today,” said Sgt. Kimberly Schneider with the U.S. Capitol Police.

At the House gym, U.S. Representative, Brian Baird of Washington, knew the situation was serious.  “I opened the door. There were officers with their guns pointed at me—game faces on.”

One House staffer was sent to a hospital suffering a panic attack, but she was released later.

Visitors had their day ruined, too.

“It’s just like—Get back, we have our job to do. Which is fine,” said Lois Hoff.  Her husband Hugh feels the same way, “Cause you never know. Only takes one person to do something strange.”

Police say the initial call from a congressional employee was valid, but what the staffer heard was the sound of routine construction.