An 18-year-old Georgia man was taken into custody this week after allegedly sprinting toward the U.S. Capitol with a loaded shotgun while wearing tactical gear, later telling officers he "was just there to talk."
According to The Blaze, Capitol Police detained Carter Camacho on Tuesday after he exited his vehicle and allegedly ran toward the Capitol carrying a loaded 12-gauge shotgun while dressed in a "tactical-style vest" and "camouflage-style clothing." Officers reportedly recovered additional rounds of ammunition from his person, underscoring the seriousness of the breach at a time when security around federal institutions remains a flashpoint in national politics.
The teenager has been charged with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm within the United States Capitol grounds, a federal offense that reflects the strict weapons restrictions in place around the seat of government. Once officers placed Camacho in handcuffs, he told Capitol Police that he was "just there to talk to a member of Congress," according to a DOJ press release, a claim that will likely be scrutinized closely by prosecutors and lawmakers alike.
Police also discovered a "fixed-blade knife" roughly 40 feet from Camachos vehicle, though authorities emphasized that the investigation is ongoing and details may yet change. Camacho made his first court appearance on Wednesday and is scheduled to return on March 2, and he will remain in custody until that date, WTOP reported, reflecting a justice system that still takes armed threats to the Capitol seriously despite political attempts to downplay such incidents.
Capitol Police first alerted the public to the situation on social media, stating that officers had arrested an individual with "what appears to be a gun" outside the Capitol. "Our officers just arrested a person with what appears to be a gun near the West Front of the U.S. Capitol Building," the statement reads. "Please avoid the area. We will provide more information when new information is confirmed."
Authorities temporarily shut down Maryland Avenue between First and Third Streets Southwest before determining there was no ongoing danger to the public. Even as the left often fixates on restricting lawful gun ownership by responsible citizens, this case highlights the real issue: enforcing existing laws against those who bring weapons to sensitive federal sites, while ensuring that political tensions are not exploited to erode the constitutional rights of millions of peaceful Americans.
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