US Capitol Police in Washington, DC, arrested an 18-year-old man Tuesday after he ran from his vehicle towards the west side of the Capitol Building armed with a shotgun. Capital Police Chief Michael Sullivan said the unidentified man parked a Mercedes SUV near the Capitol, got out and ran "several hundred yards" toward the building when officers intercepted him and ordered him to the ground, the AP reports. Speaking at a press conference following the arrest, Sullivan said the gunman was wearing a tactical vest and gloves and had a Kevlar helmet and gas mask in the vehicle. The shotgun was loaded and he had additional rounds on him, the chief said.
Sullivan said the motive was under investigation, including whether members of Congress were the target. Congress is not in session. Sullivan said the department has video footage, but he asked the public for any footage they might have of the incident. "Who knows what would have happened if we wouldn't have officers standing here?" the chief said, adding that the department had run active shooter drills in almost the identical spot in recent months. Sullivan said the young man was not known to authorities and described him as not being from the area. The chief said the vehicle was not registered to the suspect, who has multiple addresses.
In a post on X, Capitol Police said there does not appear be any ongoing threat to the public, adding, "Out of an abundance of caution, please continue to stay away from the area while we investigate and collect evidence." Reuters notes that President Trump is due to deliver his State of the Union address at the Capitol next week. "We take the State of the Union very, very seriously, and this doesn't change our posture," Sullivan said. "We will be prepared on State of the Union night."
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