The White House was the scene of an incident that incited unnecessary fear on Monday after a man threw firecrackers over the fence just hours after 12 people were shot and killed at the Navy Yard in Washington, D.C.

Authorities arrested Alexander Sahagian and charged him with throwing projectiles after he sent officials scrambling to lock down the area. Police cordoned off Lafayette Park after the incident as a precaution and were uncertain whether the incident had anything to do with yesterday’s tragic events.

Local authorities were already on high alert after 34-year old Aaron Alexis opened fire at the Navy Yard yesterday morning, wounding at least 8 people and killing 12. Police are still investigating what the motive might have been for Alexis to go on a rampage; the former military contractor was killed in a shootout on Monday. Authorities are asking anyone with information on Alexis to contact them at 202-727-9099.

Seven of the victims have been identified and their families notified; they are Michael Arnold, 59; Sylvia Frasier, 53; Kathy Gaarde, 62; John Roger Johnson, 73; Frank Kohler, 50; Bernard Proctor, 46; and Vishnu Pandit, 61.

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