Crew (00:28):
Yeah, just-
(00:28)
[inaudible 00:00:28] down.
(00:28)
[inaudible 00:00:28]? [inaudible 00:00:28] check your mic for me, please?
(00:28)
[inaudible 00:00:29].
(00:28)
[inaudible 00:00:29].
Tim Barber (00:28):
Bill? Everyone good?
(00:28)
Good? Okay.
Crew (00:28):
[inaudible 00:00:29].
Tim Barber (00:28):
Hello everybody. I'm Tim Barber, I'm the Communications Director for the United States Capitol Police. We're here to give you a brief update on the arrests that our officers made out here, just over to my ... I guess your right over there, just to the right of that fountain and that first group of steps.
(00:45)
So Chief Michael Sullivan of the United States Capitol Police is going to give you a brief synopsis as to how that played out and then answer a couple questions, keeping in mind this is a active investigation. Right now we're not going to be able to provide the suspect's name, but we will provide that later as soon as our investigators do some additional work.
(01:04)
So without further ado, here is United States Capitol Police Chief, Michael Sullivan.
Michael Sullivan (01:11):
Hey, good afternoon everybody. Thank you for being here.
(01:15)
Today, this afternoon, we had a white Mercedes SUV park in the 100 block of Maryland Avenue, and then we had a person exit that vehicle with a shotgun and begin running towards the Capitol. This individual was challenged by United States Capitol police officers in order to drop the weapon, which he did comply with. He laid down the weapon and then laid down on the ground and was taken into custody by our United States Capitol police officers. I want to commend the officers for the brave service that they provided here today. Who knows what could have happened if we wouldn't had officers here standing guard like they do every single day?
(02:02)
I think it's important to note that just a few months ago we had an active shooter exercise right here on the West Front, virtually in the same spot, and we do those active shooter exercises every single month and that's why we do it.
(02:19)
I think it's also important to note that this individual had a tactical vest on. He also had tactical gloves, and when we looked in the vehicle he had a Kevlar helmet and a gas mask in the vehicle. He was also ... Like I mentioned earlier, the shotgun was loaded. He had additional rounds on his person.
(02:41)
With that, I'll take some additional questions.
Press (02:46):
One question and then a follow up.
(02:47)
But first, just in reference to where we are here, can you point out exactly where the suspect was confronted by Capitol police?
Michael Sullivan (02:53):
It was right ... If you look over here on the West Front, right up this walkway, right at the base of the steps.
Press (03:01):
Right.
Michael Sullivan (03:01):
The first set of steps leading up to the Capitol.
Press (03:04):
And secondly, have you found anything in the car or anything else that indicates the suspect's motive?
Michael Sullivan (03:10):
That investigation is ongoing. We'll share that as soon as we get any information, but we haven't revealed any yet.
Press (03:17):
Does the motive appear to be to hurt the public or members of Congress?
Michael Sullivan (03:21):
That's ongoing.
Press (03:21):
Is there any footage of the incident or of the suspect?
Michael Sullivan (03:28):
I know that there probably is cell phone footage that is out there because we could see in our footage that we had of the subject. So yes, we have our own footage and there could be any public footage that's out there.
(03:42)
I would ask the public, if you do have footage, please contact the United States Capitol Police. We would be interested in that for our investigation as well.
Press (03:51):
I know this comes a week ahead of the State of the Union. Does this change your security posture in any way as you head into next week?
Michael Sullivan (03:59):
We take the State of the Union very, very seriously and this doesn't change our posture. We will be prepared on State of the Union night.
Press (04:09):
Chief, was this guy known to Capitol Police?
Michael Sullivan (04:12):
He was not. 18 year old who does not live in the area.
Press (04:19):
Was anybody hurt during his apprehension?
Michael Sullivan (04:21):
No.
Press (04:22):
And of that footage that you gathered, are you planning on releasing that to the public?
Michael Sullivan (04:27):
The investigation is very, very early. It's ongoing. So that'll be a decision that we make with investigators and prosecutors.
Press (04:41):
You said he doesn't live in the area. Do you know where he came from, the general area or the state?
Michael Sullivan (04:42):
Yeah, we know where the vehicle was registered to, which was not to him. We also ... He had multiple addresses, so we're trying to chase down where he actually came from.
Tim Barber (04:52):
All right folks, we have time for about three more questions or so.
Press (05:04):
Because we had people jiggling the microphones when you first described the very first thing you said about what happened, just tell us again-
Michael Sullivan (05:04):
Yeah, absolutely.
Press (05:04):
... what occurred.
Michael Sullivan (05:04):
So this afternoon today a gentleman parked in the 100 block of Maryland Avenue in a white Mercedes SUV. He exited the vehicle with a shotgun and began running towards the Capitol up the walkway just behind me. And as he approached the Capitol, Capitol police officers observed this individual, challenged him and ordered him to drop the weapon and get on the ground, which he did comply with. He was then taken into custody by United States Capitol Police.
Tim Barber (05:34):
Couple more questions.
Press (05:37):
Just one more. Just in terms of the circumstances, did he say anything at the time of his arrest, and also how close was he to potentially pulling the trigger?
Michael Sullivan (05:48):
He immediately complied from what we can see right now. I haven't been briefed on any utterances that he made during the arrest.
Press (05:55):
Just to clarify one thing, Chief. The officers who confronted the suspect, did they draw their firearms as well?
Michael Sullivan (06:01):
They did.
Press (06:04):
And are you able to share ... I might've missed a question on this. Was there any kind of political motivation on this at all?
Michael Sullivan (06:09):
We are unaware of a motive at this time.
Tim Barber (06:12):
Okay.
Press (06:12):
Last question, Chief.
Tim Barber (06:13):
Yep.
Press (06:13):
About how far did the suspect travel from the parked vehicle to the point of apprehension?
Michael Sullivan (06:18):
Well, if you look right over here by the Botanical Garden, about halfway down all the way to the capitol steps. So several hundred yards.
Press (06:31):
And also to clarify, was the gun loaded at the time of the [inaudible 00:06:32]?
Michael Sullivan (06:32):
It was.
Tim Barber (06:34):
Okay, perfect.
Michael Sullivan (06:34):
Thank you all.
Tim Barber (06:36):
All right. And we're working on a news release right now, so I've talked to our threat agents to see as soon as they're good with us releasing the name and all that stuff, we'll provide that with a little bit of extra context, so ... All right, thank you.
Press (06:49):
Thanks [inaudible 00:06:49]
(06:49)
Thank you.
(06:49)
[inaudible 00:07:00].