An 18-year-old man was arrested on Tuesday (February 17, 2026) after he ran toward the U.S. Capitol carrying a loaded shotgun, according to U.S. Capitol Police Chief Michael Sullivan.
Police said the man was wearing a tactical vest and tactical gloves when officers intercepted him. His motive remains unknown at this time. Additional tactical equipment — including a Kevlar helmet and a gas mask — was later found inside his vehicle.
According to Chief Sullivan, the suspect arrived in a white Mercedes SUV shortly after noon, parked near the Capitol, and then began running toward the building that houses the U.S. Congress. Officers immediately confronted him and ordered him to drop the weapon, which he complied with. He was taken into custody without incident.
Newly released photos from the U.S. Capitol Police show officers detaining the unidentified man and the shotgun recovered at the scene.
The incident comes less than three months after a National Guard member was killed and another wounded in an ambush shooting near the White House. It also takes place just one week before President Donald Trump is set to deliver the State of the Union address.
“We take the State of the Union very, very seriously, and this doesn’t change our posture. We will be prepared on State of the Union night,” Chief Sullivan said.