The Georgia man who was arrested while carrying a loaded gun and running onto the U.S. Capitol grounds told authorities he wanted to talk to a member of Congress, according to court records.
Carter Camacho, 18, appeared in federal court Wednesday and was ordered held without bond.
Camacho of Smyrna, Georgia, parked a Mercedes SUV near the Capitol, exited and ran toward the building carrying a loaded shotgun and additional rounds of ammunition, authorities said.
INVESTIGATORS SEEK MOTIVE AFTER GEORGIA MAN ALLEGEDLY RAN TOWARD CAPITOL WITH LOADED SHOTGUN
He was wearing body armor and camouflage-style clothing, documents state.
As he climbed up the stairs to the building, a uniformed U.S. Capitol Police officer asked Camacho what he was carrying. Camacho raised his right arm and clutched a gun, a Mossberg Model 88 12-guage shotgun, federal prosecutors said.
He complied with orders to halt and get on the ground.
“He also told USCP officers he was just there to talk to a Member of Congress,” court records state.
Court documents did not say if Camacho mentioned a specific lawmaker.
The shotgun was loaded with seven rounds and the safety was off, authorities said. An additional 17 rounds of ammunition were stored in a carrier attached to the stock of the weapon, authorities said.
Near Camacho’s vehicle, officers found a knife. The area outside the Capitol was later cleared and reopened.
Camacho was charged with unlawful possession of a gun on Capitol grounds. His next court date is March 2.
