Man arrested after running toward US capitol with loaded shotgun, say police

Police arrested a man on Wednesday after he was spotted running toward the US Capitol building while carrying a loaded shotgun, according to authorities. The unidentified individual was apprehended by Capitol Police officers near the west side of the Capitol grounds before he could approach the building, officials confirmed during a press briefing. The incident occurred during heightened security measures around the legislative complex following recent threats against government officials. Law enforcement officials stated that the suspect was immediately taken into custody without incident, and the shotgun was secured by responding officers. The man has been charged with numerous offenses including carrying a firearm on restricted grounds and attempting to breach a federal security perimeter. Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger emphasized that the quick response of officers prevented what could have been a dangerous situation, adding that security protocols worked as designed to protect lawmakers and staff in the building. Following the arrest, the Capitol was briefly placed on lockdown as a precautionary measure before normal operations resumed approximately one hour later. Federal authorities have taken over the investigation to determine the man's motives and whether he had any connections to extremist groups or was acting alone in his attempt to approach the Capitol with a weapon.