Capitol Police arrested man armed with machete and knife on Capitol grounds

Washington DC - Capitol Police on Tuesday arrested a man who was carrying a machete and a knife on the East Front of the Capitol building but have no evidence he was targeting a member of Congress, the agency said.

Capitol Police arrested a 23-year-old man who was loitering on the East Front of the Capitol building and carrying weapons.
Capitol Police arrested a 23-year-old man who was loitering on the East Front of the Capitol building and carrying weapons.  © Collage: Anna Moneymaker / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP & X/The U.S. Capitol Police

An officer noticed Jose Leonardo Marquez, who has no fixed address, pacing back and forth and then sitting down on a ledge at about 4:15 PM ET on Tuesday, the Capitol Police said in a news release.

The officer spoke with Marquez and noticed a brick in his pocket, which the man tossed to the side on the officer’s request, the agency said.

The man also pulled out a knife and placed it on the ledge, and the officer called for backup and secured the knife, the agency said.

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The officer then noticed the handle of a machete under Marquez’s clothing, the agency said. The officer drew his service weapon and ordered the man to put his hands up.

Marquez complied and officers were able to safely take the machete away from him and arrest him, the agency said. The 23-year-old was charged with carrying a dangerous weapon and possession of a prohibited weapon, the agency said.

The agency said it continues to investigate, but at this time does not know why Marquez was in Washington.

Cover photo: Collage: Anna Moneymaker / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP & X/The U.S. Capitol Police

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