Senate Offices Locked Down as Capitol Police Arrest Man with Rifle, Investigate Suspicious Package
Man with Gun Arrested near Capitol as Police Investigate Suspicious Package
The United States Capitol Police are currently investigating a concerning incident that occurred on Tuesday. A man was spotted in a park near the Capitol, carrying a gun and leaving behind a package that officials deemed suspicious.
The package was discovered in Upper Senate Park, which is located north of the Capitol and across the street from Union Station, according to WTTG-TV.
The Capitol Police later apprehended the man responsible for leaving the package.
“USCP Officers just arrested a man with a gun in the park across from Union Station,” the Capitol Police announced on Twitter at approximately 1 p.m. They assured the public that there was no ongoing threat but stated that they were gathering more information and would provide further details once confirmed.
We just searched the area in the park that we secured. Out of an abundance of caution, we going to search the suspect’s belongings. Again, the suspect is in custody. Investigation ongoing.
— The U.S. Capitol Police (@CapitolPolice) November 7, 2023
As a precautionary measure, the police closed off two streets near Union Station and urged the public to avoid the area until further notice through social media.
According to WRC-TV, the police described the man’s weapon as a “long gun,” with sources suggesting it was an AR-15-style gun.
During the police response, the Senate office buildings were briefly placed on lockdown, as reported by Axios. However, the lockdown was later lifted.
Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger revealed that the incident began around 12:39 p.m. when Capitol police officers near the Russell House Office building noticed a man with a gun in the park, according to WJLA-TV.
Manger stated that the officers ordered Ahmir Lavon Merrell, a 21-year-old from Atlanta, Georgia, to stop, but he refused to comply.
Capitol police arrest man with AR-15 in park across from Union Station https://t.co/1lZNPXsYNU pic.twitter.com/titOuthi8e
— Allison Papson (@AllisonPapson) November 7, 2023
Manger explained that Merrell was walking towards Union Station when a Capitol police officer deployed a taser on him, causing him to fall forward onto his rifle.
It was revealed that Merrell is a registered sex offender in Georgia.
Bomb technicians searched a bag that Merrell had left on a park bench but found nothing suspicious, according to Manger.
Authorities are currently unsure of Merrell’s intentions or why he was in the park with a gun. Manger mentioned that mental health issues may be a factor based on their initial interaction with Merrell.
Merrell is expected to face charges for possessing a firearm on Capitol grounds, and potentially other charges, as reported by WJLA.
Axios also highlighted that just a few days prior, two individuals crashed a car into a vehicle barrier near the Capitol. They fled the scene, leaving behind two handguns and the stolen car.
The post Senate Offices Locked Down as Capitol Police Arrest Man with Rifle, Investigate Suspicious Package appeared first on The Western Journal.
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