Armed Georgia Teen Arrested at U.S. Capitol Days Before President Trump’s State of the Union

An 18 year old Georgia man carrying a loaded shotgun and wearing tactical gear was arrested Tuesday on the steps of the U.S. Capitol, just days before President Trump is set to deliver his State of the Union address.

Authorities identified the suspect as Carter Camacho of Smyrna, Georgia. According to Capitol Police Chief Michael Sullivan, Camacho parked a white Mercedes Benz SUV near the west side of the Capitol and then ran several hundred yards toward the building while armed. He was wearing a tactical vest and gloves and was carrying additional ammunition.

Officers on duty quickly confronted him. “Capitol police officers observed this individual, challenged him and ordered him to drop the weapon and get on ground which he did comply with,” Sullivan said at a press conference. Camacho was taken into custody without shots being fired.

Police later discovered a Kevlar helmet inside the suspect’s vehicle. Chief Sullivan said Camacho was not previously known to Capitol Police and that investigators are still working to determine his motive.

“Who knows what could have happened if we hadn’t had officers here standing guard, like they do every single day,” Sullivan said. He also noted that Capitol Police had conducted an active shooter exercise in the same area just months earlier and routinely train for such threats.

President Trump is scheduled to address Congress next Tuesday night for the annual State of the Union. Sullivan emphasized that the arrest will not change security planning for the event. “We take the State of the Union very, very seriously and this doesn’t change our posture,” he said. “We’ll be prepared on State of the Union night.”

The incident comes amid rising threats against lawmakers. Capitol Police reported that in 2025, for the third consecutive year, threats against members of Congress increased, with nearly 15,000 concerning statements, behaviors, and communications investigated involving lawmakers, their families, staff, and the Capitol Complex.