Capitol Hill: Police Arrest Armed Man With AR-15 Near US Senate Buildings

U.S. Capitol Police Arrest Man With Gun Near The Capitol Building

(Photo : Alex Wong/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 07: U.S. Capitol Police arrest an unidentified individual who was in possession of a firearm outside of the U.S. Capitol Building on November 07, 2023 in Washington, DC. Capitol Hill Police responded to a suspicious package alert and arrested a man armed with gun outside U.S. Capitol Building.

A man with a gun was arrested Tuesday across from Union Station on Capitol Hill, US Capitol Police say.

According to reports, the incident took place around 12:30 p.m. when an individual was spotted walking in a park alongside Delaware Avenue NE, in front of Union Station, carrying a "long gun, " as per NBC New York.

Armed Man Near Union Station Raises Capitol Hill Security Concerns

Capitol Police quickly responded to the scene, finding the suspect, later identified as 21-year-old Ahmir Lavon Merrell of Atlanta, Georgia. Witnesses described Merrell as a tall Black man wearing an orange jumpsuit. The firearm in his possession resembled a semi-automatic weapon similar to an AR-15.

Upon encountering Merrell, officers ordered him to drop the weapon. When he failed to comply, they used a stun gun to subdue him and took him into custody. Police Chief Thomas Manger stated that Merrell will face charges for possessing a firearm on Capitol grounds, with the possibility of additional charges pending investigation.

While the motive behind Merrell's actions remains unclear, Chief Manger expressed concern over the fact that he was found on Capitol grounds. Videos from the scene showed Merrell, still in his orange jumpsuit, being loaded into an ambulance after the standoff and arrest.

Merrell is known to be a registered sex offender with mental health challenges, adding complexity to the situation. In the aftermath of the arrest, US Capitol Police continued to respond to a "suspicious package" in the upper Senate Park area, urging staff and pedestrians to avoid the vicinity.

The incident unfolded in Columbus Circle, located between the Capitol and Union Station, a mere half-mile walk from Union Station to the Senate side of the Capitol complex. Around 1 p.m. ET, an all-clear was issued, and the Senate complex's doors were reopened. Despite the disruption, members of Congress carried on with their legislative duties within the Capitol, according to Daily Beast.

Senate, House in Session Amid Security Concerns

During the arrest, the Senate was in session and conducting a vote to confirm President Biden's National Institutes of Health (NIH) nominee, Monica Bertagnolli. Simultaneously, the House was also in session.

The incident follows a weekend incident in which police apprehended two suspects who had crashed a stolen vehicle into the Capitol complex. These suspects were armed with handguns, including one modified with a "Giggle Switch" to function as a machine gun. Capitol police officers pursued and captured the suspects a few blocks from the Capitol building.

This incident serves as a reminder of security challenges faced around the US Capitol, primarily since an active shooter false alarm in August had caused panic and a lockdown. Fortunately, that incident turned out to be a result of a "bad" 911 call from a Senate office, with no injuries or actual shooters found.

In response to these security concerns, Capitol Police maintain vigilance and respond swiftly to potential threats, ensuring the safety and security of the Capitol complex and those who work within it.

While the motive of the individual arrested with the long gun remains uncertain, the incident highlights the ongoing need for diligence and preparedness in safeguarding the US Capitol and its surroundings, Mail Online reported.