By Gary Fields
Associated Press
WASHINGTON — U.S. Capitol Police in Washington, D.C., arrested an 18-year-old man Tuesday after he ran from his vehicle toward the west side of the Capitol Building armed with a shotgun.
Capital Police Chief Michael Sullivan said the man, identified as Carter Camacho of Smyrna, Georgia, was arrested after he parked a Mercedes SUV near the Capitol, got out and ran “several hundred yards” toward the building with a shotgun before officers intercepted him and ordered him to put down the firearm and get on the ground.
| SPECIAL REPORT: The DFR decisions every chief faces before the first drone ever flies
Speaking at a press conference following the arrest, Sullivan said Camacho 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 Camacho 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. He is being held for unlawful activities and carrying a rifle without a license, an unregistered firearm and unregistered ammunition, the Capitol Police said in a press release.
There have been incidents at the Capitol in recent years, including a Capitol Police arrest in 2023 where an Atlanta man armed with a rifle was spotted in a park near the Senate.
Tuesday’s arrest comes one week before President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address before Congress. Sullivan said the incident does not change the agency’s plans. “We take the State of the Union very, very seriously,” he said.
Crime in Washington is down considerably so far in 2026 from 2025, a year when there was a huge drop-off from the previous year. Trump declared an emergency in the city last August to battle crime, leading to the deployment of more than 2,000 National Guard members as well as thousands of federal law enforcement officers and agents.
The Grand Blanc Township board approved a motion to purchase 50 Glock Gen 6 9MM handguns with sights, along with new holsters and other equipment for $48,256.50
The Counter Drone State and Local Defender Act would allow state and local agencies to apply for authorization to disable drones during major events, including the 2026 World Cup
Eight Maryland county sheriff’s offices and the Wicomico County Corrections Center previously participated in 287(g) programs
Officer Houston Tipping died three days after he suffered a spinal injury during training; his family sued, claiming he was killed in retaliation for reporting an alleged sexual assault
Cybergenetics’ TrueAllele software enhances RapidHIT results by interpreting even the most challenging DNA evidence and turning them into clear, scientifically supported match statistics
