An 18-year-old Georgia man was arrested Tuesday on the steps of the United States Capitol after allegedly charging toward the building wearing a tactical vest and carrying a loaded shotgun, according to authorities, as reported by The New York Post.
Authorities said Camacho was wearing gloves and a tactical vest and had additional rounds of ammunition in his possession. A Kevlar helmet was later discovered inside his vehicle.
Chief Sullivan will provide a brief update to the press at 2:45 p.m. near Garfield Circle.
All road closures for the investigation are being cleared.
— The U.S. Capitol Police (@CapitolPolice) February 17, 2026
“Capitol police officers observed this individual, challenged him and ordered him to drop the weapon and get on ground, which he did comply with,” Sullivan said at a press conference. “He was then taken into custody.”
Officials said Camacho was not previously known to Capitol Police, and his motive remains unclear.
“Who knows what could have happened if we hadn’t had officers here standing guard, like they do every single day,” Sullivan noted.
The arrest occurred just days before President Donald Trump is scheduled to deliver his annual State of the Union address to Congress next Tuesday night at the Capitol.
The high-profile event typically brings together members of Congress, Supreme Court justices, senior administration officials, and military leaders.
Despite the timing, Sullivan said the incident would not affect security plans for the upcoming address.
We take the State of the Union very, very seriously, and this doesn’t change our posture,” Sullivan told reporters.
“We’ll be prepared on State of the Union night.”
Sullivan also revealed that Capitol Police had conducted an “active shooter exercise” in the “same spot” where Tuesday’s incident unfolded only a few months earlier.
“We do those active shooter exercises every single month – and that’s why we do it,” Sullivan said.
🚨 BREAKING: Capitol Police have just released a photos from the arrest of a man who allegedly rushed the US Capitol Building with a shotgun
The man, who was wearing a tactical vest, has been identified as 18 y/o Carter Camacho of Georgia.
Police say he also had a gas mask and… pic.twitter.com/CwvuRto0uA
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) February 17, 2026
The department underscored broader security concerns in a report released late last month. According to Capitol Police, threats against congressional lawmakers increased in 2025 for the third consecutive year.
The department investigated 14,938 concerning statements, behaviors, and communications directed at members of Congress, their families, staff, and the Capitol Complex last year.
Authorities have not released additional details about potential charges against Camacho. The investigation remains ongoing as officials review the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The quick response by officers stationed at the Capitol prevented what could have escalated into a far more serious situation at one of the nation’s most closely guarded federal buildings.