Authorities said that he was stopped by police and ordered to drop the weapon, which he complied with.
A man who had a loaded shotgun jumped out of a vehicle in Washington, DC on Tuesday, with a tactical vest and started to run towards the US Capitol building before he was stopped by police.
US Capitol Police Chief Michael Sullivan said that the man, who was 18 years old, was stopped by police and ordered to drop the weapon, which he complied with. The officers were then able to apprehend the man in question.
“This individual was challenged by United States Capitol Police officers in order to drop the weapon, which he did comply with,” Sullivan said at a Tuesday afternoon news conference. “He laid down the weapon and then laid down on the ground and was taken into custody by our United States Capitol Police officers.”
Sullivan said that the man was not known to Capitol Police and did not initially release the name of the man who was taken into custody. They said that there did not appear to be any other ongoing threat to the community around the Capitol and that the 18-year-old “does not live in the area.”
The vehicle that the suspect arrived in was not registered to him. When he was asked about a possible motive, Sullivan said that the investigation into the incident is ongoing. Congress was not in session when the incident took place.
There are a variety of security measurers set up around the Capitol building in Washington, DC, including perimeter barriers, armed guards, as well as general screening (similar to TSA) that takes place when you enter the Capitol building.
