A person with a gun was arrested Tuesday throughout from Union Station on Capitol Hill, U.S. Capitol Police say.
Somebody noticed the person strolling round with a “lengthy gun” within the park alongside Delaware Avenue NE in entrance of Union Station about 12:30 p.m., police stated. Capitol Police stated they discovered the person moments later and commanded him to drop the weapon. Officers then tased him when he did not comply, police stated.
U.S. Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger stated the suspect, 21-year-old Ahmir Lavon Merrell, of Atlanta, is a registered intercourse offender in Georgia. Medics took Merrell to a hospital in an ambulance and he is anticipated to be OK after the tasering, police stated.
Manger stated police nonetheless do not know why he was there with a gun, which he stated resembled an AR-15. Police described the gun as a semi-automatic weapon.
“Primarily based on our officers’ restricted contact and restricted dialog with Mr. Merrell, there’s some indication that he could also be coping with some psychological well being points, however we don’t know that. We don’t know why he was within the park with a gun. He made no statements as to why he was right here or what he meant to do. Once more, it’s nonetheless an ongoing investigation,” Merrell stated.
Hours after the arrest, bomb technicians have been nonetheless looking a backpack police stated Merrell carried. Officers cleared the park whereas they investigated.
Officers have been seen sprinting out to the Capitol because the incident unfolded, and others adopted. The small park is not removed from three Senate workplace buildings.
Police stated they “don’t have any cause to consider there’s an ongoing risk.”
Police aren’t certain how the suspect received to the park, whether or not it was through public transportation, on foot or he drove.
Columbus Circle between Louisiana and Delaware avenues NE and D Avenue between Louisiana and Delaware avenues NE are shut down as police examine.
On Sunday, a person with a modified gun was arrested after a automobile crashed right into a barrier close to the Capitol Constructing, police stated. Court docket paperwork stated he was out of jail on supervised launch after a earlier gun cost.
Stick with News4 for updates to this growing story.
