Nevada delegates were safe

Friday, Oct. 31, 2003 | 9:50 a.m.

Nevada's House members were safe during Thursday's false alarm of an armed gunman entering the Cannon House Office building.

The gun was fake, part of a congressional staffer's Halloween costume, according to Capitol Police Chief Terrance W. Gainer.

The offices of Nevada Democrat Shelley Berkley and Republicans Jim Gibbons and Jon Porter are just floors apart in the building, across the street from the U.S. Capitol.

Berkley was meeting with members of the Alliance for Retired Americans when an assistant came in saying police were searching for the alleged armed man who entered the building.

Police officers came and search the office, like all the other offices, and then it went into "lock-down" mode.

Berkley said she allowed her staff to vote whether to stay or go, and they chose to stay.

Gibbons spokeswoman Amy Spanbauer said everything was fine and that the House administration committee will be looking into the situation.

The House voted not to adjourn for the day after police confirmed there was no threat.

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