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WASHINGTON — A man with a rifle was arrested in a park near Senate office buildings across from Union Station in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, according to the U.S. Capitol Police, which said there is no reason to believe there is an ongoing threat.
The suspect was arrested after Capitol Police received a call about a man with a gun. The Capitol Police said in a post on X that the suspect was in custody and it had searched the park and would go through the man’s belongings “out of an abundance of caution.”
Capitol Police Chief Thomas Manger identified the suspect as 21-year-old Ahmir Lavon Merrell of Atlanta. Speaking at a news conference, Manger said the gun appeared to be a semi-automatic weapon that looked similar to an AR-15, though he could not confirm details about the weapon.
Merrell will be charged with having a firearm on Capitol grounds, Manger said. It is unclear whether there will be subsequent charges.
Manger said the incident, which occurred on a day when the Senate was in session, unfolded shortly after 12:30 p.m. when an officer near a Senate office building was alerted to a man nearby with a gun. Officers ordered the man to stop, but he did not comply, so an officer used a stun gun on the man’s back and took him into custody, Manger said.
Officers were seen sprinting to the Capitol and reporters followed, some of whom were not allowed to leave. One witness described the suspect as a tall Black man wearing an orange jumpsuit.
More than half a dozen law enforcement vehicles responded to the scene.
It took officers about three minutes to take the man into custody after being alerted to the gun, Manger said. After that, the man was put in an ambulance so that he could be treated from the stun gun if necessary, Manger added.
As of Tuesday afternoon’s press briefing, bomb technicians were still searching a bag left by the person on a park bench, Manger said, noting they have not found anything suspicious.
Frank Thorp V and Megan Lebowitz reported from Washington, Summer Concepcion reported from New York.
