Georgia teen Carter Camacho arrested with shotgun at Capitol 'wanted to talk' to member of Congress: court docs

A federal judge has ordered that the 18-year-old man accused of running toward the U.S. Capitol with a loaded shotgun will remain in custody for now.

Authorities have also released new surveillance images of the suspect and additional details about what may have motivated him.

The Backstory

Shortly after noon on Feb. 17, officers arrested a suspect on the Lower West Terrace of the U.S. Capitol. The man, identified as 18-year-old Carter Camacho of Smyrna, Georgia, was taken into custody by U.S. Capitol Police.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, Camacho was carrying a Mossberg Model 88 12-gauge shotgun. The firearm was loaded with seven rounds in the magazine tube and one round in the chamber, and the safety was off.

Police stopped the man, who was wearing camouflage (Picture: Reuters)

Investigators said officers also recovered 17 additional shotgun shells stored in a carrier attached to the weapon’s stock. Camacho was dressed in camouflage-style clothing and a tactical vest at the time of his arrest.

The shotgun was unloaded and taken by officers (Picture: Reuters)

Police later located his SUV parked in front of the U.S. Botanic Garden along Maryland Avenue, SW. Inside the vehicle, officers reported finding a gas mask and a helmet. A fixed-blade knife was discovered on the ground roughly 40 feet away.

New Details from Court Documents

Newly released court records show that Camacho allegedly told investigators he wanted to “talk” to a member of Congress. Lawmakers were not in session at the time, and it remains unclear whether any members were inside the building.

Security camera images released Wednesday appear to show Camacho running toward the Capitol while carrying the shotgun.

When he reached the western steps of the Capitol, a U.S. Capitol Police officer confronted him and asked what he was carrying. Authorities said Camacho revealed the firearm and was immediately ordered to stop and lie on the ground. He complied and was taken into custody without further incident.

Former FBI Special Agent Ken Gray said the outcome could have been far worse had officers not acted quickly. He noted that Camacho complied with commands to drop the weapon and get on the ground, preventing the situation from escalating.

Camacho appeared in court Wednesday afternoon wearing the same green fatigues and army boots he had on during his arrest. He told the judge he is in his second semester of college but did not identify the school.

What’s Next

Camacho faces multiple charges, including unlawful activities, carrying a rifle without a license, possession of an unregistered firearm and possession of unregistered ammunition. He is also charged federally with unlawful possession of a firearm on U.S. Capitol grounds.

If convicted, he could face up to five years in prison. He is scheduled to remain in custody until his next court appearance on March 2.