Lawmakers are shocked. No one thought that it would all come to this.
And now an active shooter on Capitol Hill puts Washington, D.C. on lockdown.
Politics can lead many people to do crazy things you’ve never thought possible.
But this is way beyond the pale.
According to authorities, an unnamed man armed with an AR-15 was apprehended in a park near the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday.
“USCP Officers just arrested a man with a gun in the park across from Union Station,” Capitol police wrote on X.
“At this time we have no reason to believe there is an ongoing threat. We are working to gather more information and will put out more details when they are confirmed.”
Capitol police stated that the park and the suspect’s possessions were examined and secured “out of an abundance of caution.”
The suspect remained in police custody on Tuesday afternoon as an investigation continued.
Authorities verified to Fox News that the suspect was in possession of an AR-15 and that he was operating alone.
Authorities limited access near the Capitol due to extensive police action. They announced that Columbus Circle between Louisiana and Delaware Avenues, NE, and D Street between Louisiana and Delaware Avenues, NE, would be closed.
USCP authorities are also said to have responded to a suspicious item at Upper Senate Park and have advised staff and other individuals to avoid the area until further notice. It is unknown whether the two instances were connected.
The arrest comes three days after authorities detained two people in possession of firearms after they smashed a stolen car into a barricade near the Capitol.
According to Capitol police, the two suspects are Ricardo L. Glass and Onosetale Okojie of Washington, D.C., both 20 years old.
They were arrested for a variety of offenses, including carrying a pistol without a license, unauthorized use of a vehicle, and unlawful possession of a machine gun.
Authorities said in a press release that the suspects were idling at a green light near Union Station in a stolen white Infiniti Q50 when an officer noted the driver appeared to be inebriated.
When the officer attempted to pull him over, the driver sped away and crashed into a Capitol vehicle roadblock on 1st and D Streets on the city’s northeast side.
According to the news release, Glass and Okojie then rushed away from the crash, which happened to be near the USCP headquarters, and attempted to flee until they were apprehended in the vicinity.
Authorities later examined the stolen vehicle and seized two Glock handguns, one of which featured a “Giggle Switch” that allowed the weapon to be converted into a machine gun.
USCP Officers Confiscate Guns, Capture Criminals Who Crashed Stolen Car into Capitol Complex Barricade: https://t.co/p17Fxd7QYL pic.twitter.com/dTmh4w60W4
— The U.S. Capitol Police (@CapitolPolice) November 6, 2023
U.S. Capitol police said authorities have confiscated more than 30 guns in 2023.
“All weapons are prohibited from Capitol Grounds — even if you have a gun that is legally registered in another state or the District of Columbia,” police said.
Stay tuned to the DC Daily Journal.
