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Investigators are busy trying to find out why an 18-year-old Georgia man allegedly ran to the West Front of the US Capitol armed with a loaded gun on Tuesday, prompting a quick response from the US Capitol Police.
US Capitol Police Chief Michael Sullivan said the incident happened before noon when Carter Camacho from Smyrna, Georgia, parked a Mercedes SUV near the Capitol, got out of the car and ran “several hundred meters” towards the building with a loaded gun and more ammunition.
Police arrested Camacho, ordered him to drop the weapon, and took him into custody without incident, Sullivan said.
Authorities said Camacho was wearing a vest and smart gloves. A Kevlar helmet and gas mask were found in the SUV, along with several bullets.
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Police have identified Carter Camacho of Smyrna, GA as the gunman who was arrested earlier at the US Capitol in Washington, DC on Tuesday, February 17, 2026. (USCP)
The area outside the Capitol was later removed and reopened. Police said there do not appear to be any additional suspects or an ongoing threat.
The US Capitol Police’s (USCP) Threat Assessment Section is now investigating Camacho’s motive, including whether members of Congress may have been targeted, Sullivan said. Congress was not present at the time of the incident. Officials say Camacho was previously unknown to the organization.
Sullivan said the department has video footage of the incident and has asked the public to provide additional footage.
Police have identified Carter Camacho of Smyrna, GA as the gunman who was arrested earlier at the US Capitol in Washington, DC on Tuesday, February 17, 2026. (USCP)
“Just last summer, we had a threat operation on the West Front of the US Capitol – the same area where the police stopped the suspect,” Sullivan said in a statement. “These routine exercises are now being organized every month and in different areas of the Capitol Complex to keep our police officers ready to deal with potential threats in this way.”
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Sullivan reiterated during the news conference that Capitol Police conduct active shooter drills every month, including one in nearly the same location in recent months.
“We do those practical tests every month, that’s why we do it,” he said. “Who knows what would have happened if we didn’t have the police watching like they do every day.”
Authorities appear to be looking into the car on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026, outside the US Capitol Building. (Fox Stories)
Camacho was arrested on charges including criminal mischief, possession of a firearm without a license, possession of an unregistered firearm and possession of unregistered ammunition, according to Capitol Police. He is not from the Washington area, Sullivan said, adding that the vehicle involved was not registered in the suspect’s name and had multiple addresses listed.
The arrest comes one week before President Donald Trump delivers his State of the Union address to Congress. Sullivan said the incident does not change the security arrangements for the event.
“We take the State of the Union very seriously,” he said.
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There have been other security incidents at the Capitol in recent years, including the arrest of an armed man in 2023 near the Senate.
Fox News Digital’s Greg Norman-Diamond, Tyler Olson, Alexandra Koch, Louis Casiano and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
