The U.S. Capitol Building photographed on February 17, 2026 in Washington, DC.
Heather Deal | Getty Images
On Tuesday, a man armed with a shotgun and wearing a “tactical vest” got out of his car and ran towards the Capitol before being stopped by officers stationed outside the building, law enforcement said.
Capitol Police Chief Michael Sullivan told reporters Tuesday afternoon that officers drew their guns and ordered the man to drop his weapon, which he complied with. Sullivan said the man was also wearing “tactical gloves” and was later taken into custody as he lay on the ground.
Sullivan said officers searched the white Mercedes SUV the man had exited from and “found a Kevlar helmet and gas mask inside.”
The man’s shotgun was loaded and he was carrying additional ammunition, the police chief said.
Police did not immediately identify the suspect, but Sullivan described him as an 18-year-old boy who does not live in the area.
The car was not registered to the man, and police are checking multiple addresses to “track down where he actually came from,” Sullivan said.
The motive is unknown at this time, Sullivan told reporters.
The chief praised the officers who apprehended the suspect, adding that this is why Capitol Police conduct live-fire training every month.
“If we didn’t have police officers standing here guarding us every day, who knows what would have happened,” he said.
This is developing news. Please check back for the latest information.
—CNBC’s Justin Papp contributed to this report.
