Carter Camacho, 18, of Smyrna, Georgia, entered a guilty plea on Monday to charges stemming from an incident in which he approached the U.S. Capitol building while armed with a loaded shotgun. According to federal prosecutors, Camacho told police officers who apprehended him that he intended to confront members of Congress and “scare them into speaking the truth.” He did not enter the building, and the incident resulted in no injuries.
Surveillance footage documented Camacho exiting a parked vehicle and running toward the west side of the Capitol while holding the shotgun. Capitol Police officers instructed him to stop and lie on the ground, and he complied with their commands. Camacho remains in custody pending sentencing.
According to prosecutors, Camacho stated that he purchased the shotgun approximately one week prior to driving from Georgia to the Capitol, citing “home defense” as the reason. He also indicated to police that he had left pepper spray and additional tactical gear in his vehicle “just in case I don’t want to shoot anyone.” Prosecutors documented that Camacho “further indicated that he considered using the shotgun to breach a door to be able to enter the Capitol.”
Camacho pleaded guilty to two counts: illegal possession of a firearm on Capitol grounds and receipt or distribution of child pornography. The child pornography charge resulted from examination of his phone following his arrest. U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta is scheduled to impose a sentence on Dec. 8 in Washington, D.C.
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