Man fatally shoots himself after crashing car into barricade near US Capitol building

A man shot and killed himself after driving into a vehicle barricade near the US Capitol Building in Washington DC, police said.

The incident happened when the man drove his car into a barricade at East Capitol Street and Second Street on Sunday morning (US Eastern Time).

He then left his car, which became "engulfed in flames," and fired several shots into the air, Capitol Police said in a statement.

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He then fatally shot himself when authorities approached him. There were no additional injuries and the man's name was not immediately released, according to the statement.

"At this time, it does not appear the man was targeting any members of Congress, who are on recess, and it does not appear officers fired their weapons," the statement read.

"Our investigators are looking into the man's background."

DC's Metropolitan Police Department is handling the death investigation, the statement said.

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US Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger declined to release the name of the man during a news conference later on Sunday, saying his family had not yet been notified.

Manger added that the man had a criminal history from "over the past 10 years or so," but that there was no information to indicate motive and "no political ideology that we're aware of at this point.

"Capitol Police are looking through security videos of the incident for more information on any possible intentions, the chief said.

Manger said no other weapons were found on scene, and that the only identifiable items remaining in the car in question were aerosol cans, which caught on fire shortly after the driver crashed into the barricade.