Officer Suspended After Man Carries 9mm Handgun into U.S. Capitol

Jan 23, 2025, 05:55 PM

A 27-year-old Massachusetts man was arrested after he was found carrying a 9mm handgun following a tour of the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday, January 21. The man had passed through security at the Capitol Visitor Center, setting off the magnetometer but was allowed to proceed after a secondary hand search failed to detect the weapon. The U.S. Capitol Police apprehended him as he exited the nearby Library of Congress. An officer involved in the security screening has been suspended pending further investigation. Authorities reported that the man had been flagged as a mental health risk and was experiencing suicidal thoughts.