Police arrest man who ran toward the US Capitol building holding a shotgun

U.S. Capitol Police arrested an 18-year-old Georgia man Tuesday after he ran toward the Capitol Building armed with a loaded shotgun, authorities said.

Carter Camacho of Smyrna, Georgia was apprehended after parking a Mercedes SUV near the west side of the Capitol, exiting the vehicle, and sprinting “several hundred yards” toward the building while carrying the weapon. Officers quickly intercepted him, ordering him to drop the firearm and lie on the ground.

Capitol Police Chief Michael Sullivan, speaking at a press conference following the incident, revealed that Camacho was wearing a tactical vest and gloves at the time of his arrest. Officers also discovered a Kevlar helmet and gas mask inside his vehicle.

“The shotgun was loaded, and he had additional rounds on him,” Sullivan told reporters.

Investigators are still working to determine Camacho’s motive, including whether he intended to target members of Congress, who are currently not in session. The chief noted that Camacho was not previously known to authorities and described him as “not being from the area.” The Mercedes SUV was not registered in Camacho’s name, and he reportedly has connections to multiple addresses.

Authorities have charged Camacho with unlawful activities, carrying a rifle without a license, possession of an unregistered firearm, and possession of unregistered ammunition.

“Who knows what would have happened if we wouldn’t have officers standing here?” Sullivan said, highlighting that the department had recently conducted active shooter drills in almost the exact location where Camacho was apprehended.

The Capitol Police Department has requested that any members of the public who may have recorded footage of the incident come forward to assist with the investigation.

This incident comes just one week before President Donald Trump’s scheduled State of the Union address before Congress, though Sullivan emphasized that the department’s security plans remain unchanged. “We take the State of the Union very, very seriously,” he stated.

The Capitol complex has been the target of several security threats in recent years. In 2023, Capitol Police arrested an Atlanta man armed with a rifle who was spotted in a park near the Senate building. The January 6, 2021 riot at the Capitol also prompted significant security overhauls throughout the complex.

Tuesday’s incident occurs against the backdrop of changing crime patterns in Washington, D.C. Crime rates in 2026 have decreased considerably compared to 2025, which itself saw a substantial reduction from the previous year. In August of last year, President Trump declared an emergency in the city to address crime concerns, resulting in the deployment of more than 2,000 National Guard members alongside thousands of federal law enforcement officers and agents.

These federal personnel remain stationed throughout the city. Just last week, a Washington resident was killed during an encounter with members of the U.S. Marshals Service. According to authorities, the marshals were responding to a report about an individual threatening to kidnap and harm someone while possessing a firearm. Local activists have called for greater transparency regarding this incident, which is currently under investigation by the Metropolitan Police Department.

The Capitol Police, responsible for protecting Congress and its facilities, maintain a significant security presence throughout the Capitol complex, particularly during high-profile events and periods of heightened alert.