An 18-year-old man ran toward the US Capitol with a loaded shotgun today before police arrested him without incident, says US Capitol Police Chief Michael Sullivan.
The motive of the man, who police said was wearing a tactical vest and tactical gloves, is not immediately known. He also had a Kevlar helmet and a gas mask in his vehicle, police say.
Sullivan says the man arrived in a white Mercedes SUV just after noon and parked near the Capitol, before getting out and running toward the building that houses the US Congress.
Police challenged the man and ordered him to drop the weapon, which he did, Sullivan told reporters.
The incident took place less than three months after a National Guard member was killed and another wounded in an ambush shooting near the White House.
President Donald Trump is due to deliver the annual State of the Union address at the Capitol next week.
“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,” Sullivan says.
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From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, February 17, 2026
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