An 18-year-old man wearing tactical gear was arrested Tuesday (February 17) after rushing toward the U.S. Capitol building with a loaded shotgun, according to authorities.

U.S. Capitol Police Chief Michael Sullivan told reporters that officers intercepted the armed suspect on the West Front of the Capitol after he ran "several hundred yards" from his parked white Mercedes SUV toward the building. When officers confronted him and drew their weapons, the man complied with commands to drop his shotgun and lie on the ground.

"Who knows what would have happened if we wouldn't have officers standing here?" Sullivan said during a press conference following the arrest.

The suspect, whose name has not been released, was wearing a tactical vest and gloves at the time of his arrest. Police discovered additional ammunition on his person, along with a Kevlar helmet and gas mask inside his vehicle, which was not registered in his name.

Sullivan noted that the 18-year-old was not previously known to authorities and is not from the Washington, D.C. area. The suspect reportedly has connections to multiple addresses, and investigators are still working to determine a motive for the incident.

The arrest comes at a time when threats against Congress have been rising. According to a recent U.S. Capitol Police report, threats related to Congress increased for the third consecutive year in 2025, reaching their highest level in years.

The Capitol was relatively quiet during Tuesday's incident, as lawmakers are away on a pre-scheduled recess this week. However, congressional staff were still working in the building. The incident occurs just one week before President Donald Trump is scheduled to deliver his State of the Union address at the Capitol on February 24.

Capitol Police had recently conducted active shooter drills in almost the identical location where the arrest took place, according to Sullivan.

The investigation remains ongoing, with authorities expected to release more information about the suspect later Tuesday.

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