Police arrest armed teen near US Capitol, motive unknown

An 18-year-old man armed with a loaded shotgun was arrested on February 17 afternoon after exiting his vehicle a block from the United States Capitol and running toward the building, law enforcement officials said.

The episode unfolds amid a sharp rise in threats against lawmakers. The United States Capitol Police opened nearly 15,000 threat assessment cases last year — up from 9,474 in 2024, marking an increase of almost 60%, Axios reports.

At a press conference, Capitol Police Chief Michael Sullivan detailed the arrest. The suspect was “challenged by United States Capitol Police officers and ordered to drop the weapon, which he did comply with,” Sullivan said.

“He laid down the weapon and then laid down on the ground and was taken into custody,” Sullivan added.

According to the chief, the shotgun “was loaded,” and the suspect was wearing a “tactical vest” and “tactical gloves,” while also carrying “additional rounds on his person.” A Kevlar helmet and a gas mask were allegedly found inside his vehicle.

Authorities have declined to identify the suspect. Sullivan described him only as “an 18-year-old who does not live in the area,” noting that he was not previously known to law enforcement. The white Mercedes SUV he was driving was not registered in his name.

In an email sent shortly after noon to congressional offices, Capitol Police said they had “just arrested a person with what appears to be a gun near the West Front of the US Capitol Building.” Several nearby streets were temporarily closed as officers conducted their investigation.

Approximately 90 minutes later, Capitol Police issued an all-clear to congressional staff, announcing that the affected portion of the Capitol campus had been reopened.

The investigation remains ongoing. Police are “unaware of a motive at this time,” Sullivan told reporters, adding that the incident “doesn’t change” the department’s security posture ahead of the upcoming State of the Union address.

By Vafa Guliyeva