Suspected gunman arrested near Capitol

United States Capitol Police Chief Michael Sullivan said Tuesday that a man has been arrested for allegedly carrying a shotgun and running toward the Capitol building in Washington, D.C.

The incident occurred near the west front of the U.S. Capitol Building at approximately noon. The incident occurred while congress is not in session, meaning most, if not all lawmakers, are not within the capitol complex. 

Sullivan said the 18-year-old is not a local to the D.C. area and ran toward the Capitol building from a white Mercedes SUV. The man, who was not named, was coming from the direction of the National Mall, according to CBS News. 

"This individual was challenged by United States Capitol Police officers in order to drop the weapon, which he did comply with," Sullivan said at a news conference. "He laid down the weapon and then laid down on the ground and was taken into custody by our United States Capitol Police officers."

The police chief said the man was wearing a tactical vest and had tactical gloves and the gun was loaded. Sullivan said police are not aware of a motive so far but that the investigation is still ongoing.