Police Stop Suspect with Shotgun as He Ran Toward U.S. Capitol

A man wearing a tactical vest and carrying a loaded shotgun was apprehended by police officers after he ran toward the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C.
Source Officer.com News
Feb. 17, 2026

What to know

  • Police stopped an 18-year-old man who ran toward the U.S. Capitol carrying a loaded shotgun Tuesday.

  • Officers ordered the suspect to surrender, and he immediately dropped the weapon before being taken into custody.

  • Police recovered a gas mask and Kevlar helmet from the suspect’s SUV, and his motive remains under investigation.

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U.S. Capitol.

A man carrying a loaded shotgun was stopped by police Tuesday as he ran toward the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.

Police stopped an 18-year-old man who ran toward the U.S. Capitol carrying a loaded shotgun and wearing a tactical vest on Tuesday.

The incident happened shortly after noon when a man in Washington, D.C., exited an SUV and began running toward the Capitol building, ABC News reports. He was intercepted by Capitol police officers, who ordered him to surrender.

The suspect immediately dropped his weapon and was apprehended by police.

Officers found additional ammunition on the suspect, who was wearing a tactical vest and gloves. Police also seized a gas mask and Kevlar helmet in the suspect's SUV.

The suspect's motive was not immediately known.

About the Author

Joe Vince
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Joe Vince

Joining Endeavor Business Media in 2018, Joe has worked on the company's city services publications. He began working at OFFICER.com as the assistant editor. Before starting at Endeavor, Joe had worked for a variety of print and online news outlets, including the Indianapolis Star, the South Bend Tribune, Reddit and Patch.com.
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