The reported shooting and the ensuing office by office search of the Rayburn House Office Building may have been the result of the sound made by some construction equipment being misidentified by a Representative.

The report originated with Rep. Jim Saxton, R-N.J., his press secretary said. Saxton heard what he thought were gunshots and had a member of his staff call Capitol Police, said spokesman Greg Keeley.

Capitol Police spokeswoman Sgt. Kimberly Schneider said police were investigating a “plausible explanation” that the day’s events resulted from noise made by construction workers in the Rayburn garage. “In doing their routine duties, they made some sort of a noise that sounded like shots fired. So it was a valid call,” she said.

James Joyner had this to say at Outside The Beltway:

Saxon is going to go down in the Annuals of Congressional Courage along with Senator Mark Dayton, who closed his office the month before the elections based on a non-existent terrorism scare.

It’s fortunate that this turned out the way it did. The various law enforcement personnel appeared to work efficiently and effectively. Still, life is going to be hard on Rep. Saxton for a while. I hope he has a good sense of humor.