Man arrested after running toward U.S. Capitol with loaded shotgun, say police

An 18-year-old man ran toward the U.S. Capitol with ​a loaded shotgun on Tuesday (February 17, 2026) ‌before police arrested him without incident, ​said U.S. Capitol ⁠Police Chief Michael Sullivan.

The motive of the man, who police said was wearing ‌a tactical vest and tactical gloves, was not immediately ‌known. He also had a ‌Kevlar ⁠helmet and a gas ⁠mask in his vehicle, police said.

Mr. Sullivan said the man arrived in a white ​Mercedes SUV just after ‌noon and parked near the Capitol, before getting out and running toward the building that ‌houses the U.S. Congress.

Police challenged ​the man and ordered him to drop the weapon, ⁠which he did, Mr. Sullivan told reporters.

The incident took place less ‌than three months after a National Guard member was killed and another wounded in an ambush shooting near the White House.

President Donald Trump is due to ‌deliver the State of the Union ​address at the Capitol next week.

“We take the State ⁠of the Union very, very seriously, ⁠and this doesn’t change our posture. We will be ‌prepared on State of the Union night,” Mr. Sullivan said.