Congress observes moment of silence for fallen Capitol Police

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said a “madman” shot the men.

{mosads}“They were shot to death by a madman, there’s no other way to explain it,” Reid said.

Russell Eugene Weston Jr. entered the Capitol and opened fire on July 24, 1998.

Reid said the anniversary of the officers’ deaths made him remember his own days as a Capitol Police officer.

“I take special pride that I was a Capitol policeman in this building,” Reid said. “I worked the swing shift while I was going to law school … I honor their service and sacrifice and it’s forced me to think back on my days of youth wandering around this building at night alone … And we are grateful to the brave men and women who guard ‘the People’s House’ today.”

On Monday morning the Senate had a moment of silence for the victims of the Colorado movie theater massacre where 12 people died and more than 50 were shot.