An individual armed with a loaded shotgun and wearing a tactical vest was apprehended outside the U.S. Capitol, officials have disclosed.
The suspect, only 18 years old, was noticed as he ran towards the Capitol carrying the firearm, according to U.S. Capitol Police Chief Michael Sullivan, who addressed the media on Tuesday afternoon.
In addition to the shotgun, the young man was found with extra ammunition, authorities reported.
As he approached the Capitol from the western entrance, Capitol Police officers confronted him. The suspect cooperated with the officers and was quickly taken into custody, officials confirmed.
The teenager, who is not a local resident, had no previous interactions with law enforcement before this incident.
Earlier in the day, around noon, the U.S. Capitol Police issued a threat alert concerning an event near the Capitol’s Lower West Terrace.
‘Our officers just arrested a person with what appears to be a gun near the West Front of the US Capitol Building. Please avoid the area,’ USCP said in a statement.
‘Staff and other personnel are directed to AVOID THIS AREA until further notice,’ the statement added.
A man with a shotgun, rounds of ammunition and a tactical vest ran towards the US Capitol building on Tuesday before being stopped by Capitol Police
A White Mercedes Benz was picture being searched by USCP
The car, suspected to be owned by the 18-year-old would-be assailant, was towed after the incident
Within 30 minutes, USCP announced they had arrested the suspect.
Maryland Avenue was momentarily closed between First and Third Streets, SW.
The Lower West Terrace is a hardly ever utilized space on the Capitol’s entrance facing the National Mall. It is most notably used for the swearing in of presidents and has few other ceremonial uses.
Images from the scene showed a number of officers standing near the Lower West Terrace with police tape up as authorities investigated.
Capitol Police has said that there are no other suspects at this time.
The USCP later gave the all clear around 2 pm local time and traffic resumed as normal.
Lawmakers are in recess this week; most representatives and senators are not in Washington or at the Capitol.
‘The fact that I work in a building that’s such a major target is always in the back of my mind when I’m coming into work,’ one hill aide told the Daily Mail. ‘It’s definitely a little unnerving at times, but I’m thankful that the Capitol police do such a great job protecting us & stopping these incidents before they become a tragedy.’
The Capitol Complex and members of Congress have seen a sharp uptick in threats over the last five years.
Two Democratic lawmakers have recently been attacked as threats against members of Congress continue to rise
Recently, the Capitol Police released a threat assessment showing that the number of concerning statements, behaviors and communications directed against lawmakers, their families, staff and the Capitol Complex has risen drastically.
In 2025, the agency investigated 14,938 incidents, a major increase year-over-year from the 9,474 incidents in 2024.
The Capitol Police has been contacted for comment.
There have already been two members of Congress attacked this year.
Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar of Minnesota was sprayed with an unknown substance from a syringe while giving a town hall in Minneapolis.
Days before that, Democratic Congressman Maxwell Frost of Florida was punched in the face while attending the Sundance Film Festival.
The man who sprayed Omar and the man who punched Frost were later charged with assault.
