Skip to content

Capitol Police arrest man who had knife and machete

Agency says there is no evidence he was targeting a member of Congress

Capitol Police seen on the East Front plaza of the Capitol in 2022.
Capitol Police seen on the East Front plaza of the Capitol in 2022. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)

Capitol Police arrested a man Tuesday afternoon 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.

An officer noticed Jose Leonardo Marquez, 23, who has no fixed address, pacing back and forth and then sitting down on a ledge at about 4:15 p.m., 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.

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.

Marquez 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.

Recent Stories

Newsom sets special election for LaMalfa’s seat for Aug. 4

Senate Republicans detail farm aid package components

Joke detector — Congressional Hits and Misses

Virginia voters set to decide on new House map for the midterms

The facts on the vaccines the CDC no longer recommends for all kids

Venezuela is a lesson — Africa is a test of whether we learned from it