FORT LEE, Va. — An enraged soldier barricaded herself inside a major command’s headquarters and shot herself in the head Monday after throwing objects around the office as law enforcement officials tried to negotiate with her, the Army said. She died later in the day.
The soldier, who has not been identified, was pronounced dead after being taken to Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, according to a news release issued by Fort Lee, where the Monday morning shooting took place. No other injuries were reported.
The heavily trafficked base went on lockdown while the soldier was barricaded on the third floor of the four-story building that houses the Army’s Combined Arms Support Command. About 1,100 people were inside, but no one else was hurt, officials said.
The Army said an alert was sounded across the post and those in the building either took shelter inside or evacuated as directed.
‘‘This situation could’ve been worse,’’ said Major General Stephen R. Lyons, who took over as commanding general of the support command Friday.
The soldier was a sergeant first class who has been in the Army for 14 years and at Fort Lee for three, Lyons said. Her gun was not a service weapon.