A man was arrested outside the Capitol in Washington, D.C. after he was found to have a knife and machete on his person. Capitol Police issued a statement Wednesday on the arrest, saying an officer noticed the man acting “strange” and asked him to remove a brick that was sticking out of his pocket. The man also removed a knife and set it down. The officer then noticed the handle of a machete under the man’s clothing.
Police identified the man as “23 year old Jose Leonardo Marquez of no fixed address.” Police said there was no evidence he was targeting any members of Congress. The House and Senate are on break for the holidays with the Senate holding pro-forma sessions until January 8, with the House out until January 9.
Capitol Police posted a photo of the blades:
USCP Officers Arrest Man with Machete & Knife outside the U.S. Capitol
December 27, 2023 Press ReleaseYesterday afternoon, United States Capitol Police (USCP) officers arrested a man who was carrying a machete and a knife on the East Front of the U.S. Capitol.
“This is another example of the vigilance and strong intuition of our USCP officers,” said U.S. Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger. “I am proud of our cops who routinely work to keep everyone around the U.S Capitol safe.”
On Tuesday, at approximately 4:15 p.m., a USCP officer saw a man pacing back and forth, then sit down on a ledge on the east side of U.S. Capitol. After witnessing the man’s strange behavior the officer approached the man. After speaking with him for a few minutes, the officer noticed a brick in the man’s pocket. The officer asked him to toss the brick to the side. After he complied, the man also pulled out a knife and placed the knife on the ledge. The officer called for backup and secured the knife.
Then the officer noticed the handle of a machete under the man’s clothing. The officer drew his service weapon and ordered the man to put his hands up. The man complied and officers were able to safely take the machete away from the man and make the arrest.
The suspect has been identified as 23 year old Jose Leonardo Marquez of no fixed address.
While the investigation continues, it is not yet clear what Marquez was doing in Washington, D.C. At this time, there is no evidence that Marquez was targeting Members of Congress. So far he is being charged with Carrying a Dangerous Weapon and Possession of a Prohibited Weapon.
Last month on November 7 Capitol Police announced the arrest of a man with a rifle near the Capitol (excerpt)
On Tuesday, at approximately 12:40 p.m., a witness alerted a USCP officer that a man with a rifle was walking in the park across from Union Station — the area of the park near Delaware Avenue and Columbus Circle, NE. The officer called for backup, which quickly arrived.
Officers spotted the man carrying a rifle in one hand, so they demanded that he drop the gun. When the man refused, an assisting USCP officer tased the suspect, so officers could take the gun and make the arrest. The park was temporarily closed while investigators searched the area and the suspect’s belongings.
The suspect has been identified as 21 year old Ahmir Lavon Merrell of Atlanta, GA. Police records show he has a warrant for a probation violation out of Georgia.
While the investigation continues, it is not yet clear what Merrell was doing in Washington, D.C. So far he is being charged with Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Unregistered Ammunition, Unregistered Firearm, Fugitive from Justice, and Unlawful Activities.
