Capitol Police officers arrested a man attempting to enter the premises with a machete and three knives concealed in his bag.
The incident took place shortly after 2:00 p.m. at the north entrance of the Capitol Visitor Center, leading to a temporary suspension of security screening operations in the area.
It occurred just ahead of President Trump’s scheduled meeting with lawmakers.
The suspect, whose identity has not yet been released, was immediately arrested for multiple charges.
Authorities are currently investigating his motives and any potential threats associated with the incident.
According to the Capitol Police:
During security screening at the CVC’s north doors, our officers spotted a machete in the man’s bag, stopped the x-ray machine, arrested the man, and secured the machete.
Three knives were also found in the bag, along with the machete. Security screening was temporarily stopped at the north side of the Capitol Visitor Center while we investigated.
The man is being arrested for multiple charges of Carrying a Dangerous Weapon. We will provide more information once it is available.
Just after 2:00 p.m., our officers stopped and arrested a man who tried to get a machete into the Capitol Visitor Center (CVC).
THREAD: pic.twitter.com/7XFL4wNt6d
— The U.S. Capitol Police (@CapitolPolice) January 8, 2025
At the time Capitol Police confiscated the machete, former President Jimmy Carter’s casket lay in the Capitol Rotunda, according to the New York Post.
Later in the day, Trump was scheduled to visit the Capitol to pay his respects to Carter and meet with Senate Republicans to discuss the GOP agenda.
A similar incident occurred in 2023 when Capitol Police arrested a man on Capitol grounds after his suspicious behavior caught the attention of officers. Upon investigation, the man was found to be carrying a machete, a butcher knife, and a brick.
The suspect was later identified as a 23-year-old illegal alien from Venezuela who had been arrested by Border Patrol agents near El Paso in 2022 and released because there was no room to hold him. The man is now facing “removal proceedings,” ICE said.
Capitol Police statement dated December 27, 2023:
At approximately 4:15 p.m., a USCP officer saw a man pacing back and forth, then sit down on a ledge on the east side of U.S. Capitol. After witnessing the man’s strange behavior the officer approached the man. After speaking with him for a few minutes, the officer noticed a brick in the man’s pocket. The officer asked him to toss the brick to the side. After he complied, the man also pulled out a knife and placed the knife on the ledge. The officer called for backup and secured the knife.
Then the officer noticed the handle of a machete under the man’s clothing. The officer drew his service weapon and ordered the man to put his hands up. The man complied and officers were able to safely take the machete away from the man and make the arrest.
The suspect has been identified as 23 year old Jose Leonardo Marquez of no fixed address.
While the investigation continues, it is not yet clear what Marquez was doing in Washington, D.C. At this time, there is no evidence that Marquez was targeting Members of Congress. So far he is being charged with Carrying a Dangerous Weapon and Possession of a Prohibited Weapon.
This is a developing story.
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