1954 United States Capitol shooting incident facts for kids
Quick facts for kids 1954 U.S. Capitol shooting incident |
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| Location | Washington, D.C. |
| Date | March 1, 1954 |
| Attack type | Shooting |
| Weapon(s) | Semi-automatic pistols: Walther P38 9mm, Luger P08 9mm, Artillery Luger 9mm. |
| Deaths | 0 |
| Injured | 5 (Alvin M. Bentley, Clifford Davis, Ben F. Jensen, George Hyde Fallon, and Kenneth A. Roberts) |
| Perpetrator(s) | Lolita Lebrón, Rafael Cancel Miranda, Andrés Figueroa Cordero, and Irvin Flores Rodríguez |
The United States Capitol shooting incident of 1954 was an attack that happened on March 1, 1954. Four people from a group called the Puerto Rican independence movement carried out the attack. This group wanted Puerto Rico to become an independent country, separate from the United States.
The attackers fired 30 shots from semi-automatic pistols. They were in the Ladies' Gallery, which is a balcony for visitors inside the United States Capitol. The shots were aimed at the House of Representatives chamber.
Contents
The 1954 Capitol Shooting
What Happened During the Attack?
The shooting started while members of the House of Representatives were debating a new immigration bill. Five Representatives were hurt, but thankfully, all of them recovered. One person was seriously injured, but they also got better.
Who Was Involved in the Shooting?
The four people responsible for the attack were Lolita Lebrón, Rafael Cancel Miranda, Andres Figueroa Cordero, and Irvin Flores Rodríguez. After the shooting, they were arrested right away.
What Happened After the Attack?
The attackers were sent to prison for a long time. However, many years later, in 1978 and 1979, President Jimmy Carter forgave them. This act of forgiveness is called a "pardon." After being pardoned, all four people were released from prison and went back to Puerto Rico.
Images for kids
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Don Pedro Albizu Campos
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Lebrón led by police officers following her arrest
