By: Jackson Cummings

Sentry Staff Reporter

A black Infiniti sedan was being recklessly driven from the White House to the Capitol building on October 3. The 34 year-old, Miriam Carey, was shot dead after much pursuit. Her one year-old daughter was found in the car, uninjured, as well.

The chase of the sedan began at a security checkpoint just outside the White House. According to the Washington Post, Carey made a U-turn and struck a secret service agent who was trying to block her vehicle.

The authorities followed Carey as she drove along Pennsylvania Avenue, heading towards the United States Capitol Building. Again according to the Washington Post, she entered Garfield Circle traveling in the wrong direction and allegedly rammed into multiple police cruisers when trying to escape.

Carey was finally struck down when she was going in reverse on Maryland Avenue. Police are unsure of how many shots were fired, but various reports agree it was greater than 17. A debate is going on regarding the police officers firing at the vehicle while it was moving. Many departments disallow officers to fire weapons at moving vehicles. It is currently unclear whether or not the Capitol Police and/or Secret Service have violated their protocols.

The spokesperson for both the Capitol Police and the Secret Service refused to provide a copy of the policies in relation to the agency’s chase and use-of-force authorized actions. Brian Leary is the current spokesperson for the Secret Service and Lieutenant Kimberly Schneider is the Capitol Police spokesperson. They also refused to comment on the situation at hand.

While the incident was going on, the capitol building was locked down. According to a CBS News news article, the U.S. Capitol police said they were working without pay as a result of the government shutdown.

The daughter of Carey is currently in protective custody while the authorities investigate the situation. Presently, the D.C. Internal Affair Division of the police department is doing so.

Recent findings have brought forward the idea that Carey had some sort of mental illness. According to a CNN News article, mental health papers were found. Law enforcement found discharge papers from a 2012 mental health evaluation. Also on the evaluation were prescriptions to treat schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and other unknown illnesses. Also written in the article was a report from a psychologist and an expert in mental health disorders, Xavier Amador. Amador states it is possible that the medications found on the evaluation were prescribed for postpartum psychosis.

Postpartum psychosis and bipolar disorder have a small relationship, according to a document published on Europe PubMed Central’s website. “Evidence from studies of women with a history of bipolar disorder, longitudinal studies of women with puerperal episodes of psychosis, and family studies support a link between postpartum psychosis and bipolar disorder.”

Carey’s boyfriend, who remains unnamed, told the police that in December, she appeared to be delusional. Apparently she believed that president Barack Obama had placed her hometown of Connecticut under lockdown, and that her home was under electronic surveillance.

Many parties are disputing on the action of the authorities. It is possible that Carey could have been a terrorist, but as police were unaware, they followed their instincts.

The government shutdown has already affected people throughout Arlington. The addition of this crisis is not very helpful. With all these crises at hand, what is next?