Man Arrested Near U.S. Capitol with Loaded Shotgun

An 18-year-old man from Georgia was arrested on February 17, 2026, after allegedly running toward the U.S. Capitol building with a loaded shotgun and wearing a tactical vest, according to U.S. Capitol Police reports.

Details of the Arrest

Carter Camacho, of Smyrna, Georgia, was apprehended as he approached the west side of the Capitol, facing the National Mall. Officers instructed him to drop his weapon and lie on the ground, which he complied with according to the Associated Press.

Camacho is charged with unlawful activities, carrying a rifle without a license, possessing an unregistered firearm and possessing unregistered ammunition NBC4 Washington reports. He was found to be wearing tactical gloves and had a Kevlar helmet and gas mask in his white Mercedes SUV the AP detailed.

Increased Security Ahead of State of the Union

The arrest occurred just a week before President Donald Trump is scheduled to deliver his State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress on February 24 USA Today noted. U.S. Capitol Police Chief Michael Sullivan stated that the department takes the State of the Union “very, very seriously” and that the incident did not alter their security posture.

This incident comes as threats against members of Congress have been on the rise. In 2025, a record 14,938 threats were recorded, surpassing the previous peak of 9,625 in 2021 according to police data.

Ongoing Investigation

Authorities are investigating the motive behind Camacho’s actions, including whether members of Congress were specifically targeted. Sullivan indicated that Camacho was not previously known to authorities and has multiple addresses the AP reported. The vehicle he was driving was as well not registered to him.

Capitol Police have been conducting monthly active shooter drills, including one in the recent months at the location of the arrest USA Today reported.