Police Arrest Armed 18-Year-Old Who Ran Toward U.S. Capitol

A potentially catastrophic incident near the U.S. Capitol was stopped in its tracks Monday after officers intercepted an armed 18-year-old before he could get anywhere near lawmakers or staff.

According to authorities, U.S. Capitol Police observed the suspect walking near Capitol grounds carrying a long gun. Officers quickly moved in and detained the individual without a single shot being fired and without any reported injuries. The suspect never breached a secured perimeter or entered any restricted building.

Capitol Police Chief Michael Sullivan identified the suspect as Carter Camacho of Smyrna, Georgia. Sullivan said Camacho parked a Mercedes SUV near the Capitol, exited the vehicle, and ran “several hundred yards” toward the complex while holding a shotgun. Officers confronted him and ordered him to drop the weapon and get on the ground — commands he complied with.

Federal and local law enforcement agencies are continuing to investigate the motive behind the alarming episode.

At a press conference, Sullivan revealed that Camacho was outfitted in a tactical vest and gloves. A Kevlar helmet and gas mask were also discovered inside the SUV. The shotgun was loaded, and the suspect allegedly had additional ammunition on him at the time of the arrest.

Authorities have not confirmed whether members of Congress were the intended targets. Congress was not in session when the incident occurred.

Sullivan noted that the department possesses video footage of the confrontation and encouraged members of the public to provide any additional recordings.

“Who knows what would have happened if we wouldn’t have officers standing here?” the chief added, pointing out that Capitol Police had conducted active shooter drills in nearly the exact same location in recent months.

Security at the Capitol complex has remained tight since the January 6, 2021 breach, with officers instructed to respond swiftly to any armed individual in the vicinity. Monday’s rapid response underscores the vigilance now embedded in day-to-day operations designed to protect lawmakers, staff, and visitors.

Sullivan said Camacho was not known to authorities and is not a Washington resident. The vehicle he drove was not registered in his name, and officials indicated he has multiple listed addresses. According to a Capitol Police press release, Camacho is being held on charges including engaging in unlawful activities, carrying a rifle without a license, and possession of an unregistered firearm and unregistered ammunition.

The incident follows other recent security scares in the nation’s capital.

In September, Secret Service agents apprehended a man who scaled a fence at the Treasury Department near the White House. The individual — reportedly dressed in a blazer and sunglasses — was quickly intercepted by agents who ran across the compound.

“On Monday, September 29 at approximately 4:55 p.m., an individual scaled the fence on the southeast side of the U.S. Treasury Building and was arrested by U.S. Secret Service Uniformed Division officers for unlawful entry,” the agency said in a statement to RealClearPolitic’s Susan Crabtree.

“He was subsequently transported to Metropolitan Police Department’s 2nd District for processing. There was no impact to our protective operations,” the statement continued.

That breach occurred the same day Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was visiting the White House. Earlier that morning, a Secret Service SUV parked outside the complex caught fire ahead of the high-profile visit.

Just the News reported that the vehicle’s back seat ignited, though the cause remains unclear. Photographs from the scene showed firefighters extinguishing the blaze, which was reportedly contained to the interior as smoke poured from the front passenger door. The fire was put out shortly before 11 a.m. local time.

The spate of security incidents comes amid broader concerns about rising instability nationwide. Just one day prior to the Capitol scare, a gunman opened fire inside a Latter-day Saints church in Michigan, killing at least four people and wounding eight others — including children — before setting the church ablaze.

Taken together, the events serve as a stark reminder of the importance of proactive law enforcement and robust security measures at federal buildings — particularly in a volatile climate where a single failure could have devastating consequences.