An 18-year-old ran toward the West Front of the U.S. Capitol with a loaded shotgun, and carrying additional rounds, before being apprehended by officers, U.S. Capitol Police Chief Michael G. Sullivan said Tuesday afternoon.
The incident started around noon when a white Mercedes SUV parked in the 100 block of Maryland Avenue SW, Sullivan said at a news briefing. A man wearing a tactical vest and tactical gloves got out of the vehicle with a shotgun and began running toward the Capitol.
According to Sullivan, Capitol Police officers, with firearms drawn, ordered the man to drop the weapon as he reached the base of the West Front steps and he “immediately complied.” He then lay down on the ground and was taken into custody. There were no injuries reported.
In the vehicle, officers found a Kevlar helmet and a gas mask, according to Sullivan.
“We are unaware of a motive at this time,” he said. He asked anyone with cellphone footage of the incident to send it to Capitol Police.
Officials have not yet released the man’s name but said they will as soon investigators allow. The 18-year-old does not live in the area and has multiple addresses, Sullivan said. The vehicle was not registered to him. Police did not say where the vehicle was registered.
A few months earlier, officers took part in an active-shooter exercise on the West Front close to where Tuesday’s incident unfolded, Sullivan said. He said officers do those exercises every month, and “that’s why we do it.”
Sullivan commended Capitol Police officers and said, “Who knows what could have happened if we would not have had officers standing guard like they do every single day.” Congress is not in session this week.
People trying to visit the U.S. Botanic Garden on Tuesday afternoon were stopped by yellow caution tape cordoning off the area.
Capitol Police officers began removing the tape just before 1:30 p.m.
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