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A Georgia man was apprehended while carrying a loaded firearm and rushing onto the grounds of the U.S. Capitol, court documents reveal. The individual expressed a desire to speak with a member of Congress.
Carter Camacho, an 18-year-old from Smyrna, Georgia, faced a federal judge on Wednesday, who decided to hold him without bail.
According to authorities, Camacho arrived in a Mercedes SUV, which he parked near the Capitol. He then exited the vehicle and sprinted towards the building, armed with a loaded shotgun and carrying extra ammunition.
Identified by police, Camacho was the armed suspect detained on Tuesday at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. He reportedly informed officials that his intention was merely to have a conversation with a congressional member.
Camacho was dressed in body armor and attire resembling camouflage, as outlined in the official documents.
As he climbed up the stairs to the building, a uniformed U.S. Capitol Police officer asked Camacho what he was carrying. Camacho raised his right arm and clutched a gun, a Mossberg Model 88 12-guage shotgun, federal prosecutors said.Â
Police identified Carter Camacho of Smyrna, Ga., as the armed person arrested at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026. (USCP)
He complied with orders to halt and get on the ground.Â
“He also told USCP officers he was just there to talk to a Member of Congress,” court records state.Â
Court documents did not say if Camacho mentioned a specific lawmaker.
The shotgun was loaded with seven rounds and the safety was off, authorities said. An additional 17 rounds of ammunition were stored in a carrier attached to the stock of the weapon, authorities said.
Carter Camacho was allegedly spotted with a shotgun near the U.S. Capitol. (Justice Department)
Near Camacho’s vehicle, officers found a knife. The area outside the Capitol was later cleared and reopened.
Camacho was charged with unlawful possession of a gun on Capitol grounds. His next court date is March 2.Â