❓WHAT HAPPENED: A man was arrested near the U.S. Capitol after police discovered a cache of weapons, including a bow, in his car.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Nolan R. Churan, United States Capitol Police, D.C. Metropolitan Police.
📍WHEN & WHERE: Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C., July 2025
💬KEY QUOTE: “Currently, there does not appear to be a nexus to the Congress.” – USCP
🎯IMPACT: The incident triggered a weapons investigation and raised concerns over Capitol security.
Capitol Police officers from the First Responders Unit discovered a suspicious vehicle parked improperly in a zone designated for Congressional staff in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, July 16. The Subaru Outback, which had a large tricycle strapped to its roof, drew attention for lacking a valid parking permit.
Upon inspecting the vehicle, officers spotted weapons and accessories inside, including a bow and arrow, a knife, and an empty pistol holster. After running the driver’s license, police located 23-year-old Nolan R. Churan near the North Barricade of the Capitol, where he admitted to having firearms in his car.
A firearms detection K-9 from the D.C. Metropolitan Police alerted to potential ammunition or weapons, prompting a more extensive search. The U.S. Capitol Police Crime Scene Evidence Unit uncovered a rifle, a handgun, ammunition, multiple blades, including knives and axes, a halberd, a rapier sword, and a bow and arrow.
Churan now faces a series of charges, including Carrying a Pistol without a License, Carrying a Rifle without a License, Possession of a High-Capacity Ammunition Feeding Device, and Carrying a Dangerous Weapon – Sword.
The Capitol Police Threat Assessment Section is continuing to investigate to determine Churan’s intent. USCP officials released a statement noting, “Currently, there does not appear to be a nexus to the Congress.”
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