American Indian Museum Evacuated After Man Falls

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A Smithsonian Institution spokesman says the Museum of the American Indian was evacuated Saturday after a man apparently jumped over a railing inside the building and fell to his death.

Spokesman John Gibbons says the museum was closed to the public after the man, who was visiting the museum with his family, jumped over the railing of a fourth-floor overlook to a central atrium below.

"He was visiting with his family, but was alone at the time. His family was someplace else in the building," Gibbons said.

The area where the man landed was quickly cordoned off, Gibbons said. The building, which is next to the National Air and Space Museum on the National Mall, was evacuated.

Gibbons said hundreds of visitors were in the museum at the time of the incident, but he didn't have an exact number.

The Metropolitan Police Department would not release the name of the man. The incident is under investigation.

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