A man armed with a machete and three knives was arrested Wednesday at the U.S. Capitol as crowds gathered to pay their respects to former President Jimmy Carter, who lies in state in the Capitol Rotunda.
Capitol Police reported that the man was stopped at the north entrance to the Capitol Visitors Center. Officers noticed the machete inside his bag during an X-ray screening, prompting them to halt the machine and make the arrest, according to NBC Washington.
While securing the machete, officers searched the bag and discovered three additional knives, Capitol Police confirmed in a statement shared on social media.
On Wednesday, thousands of people from across the country came to the Capitol Rotunda to honor Carter before his state funeral on Thursday. Despite snow, icy roads, and freezing temperatures, some mourners arrived before dawn and waited in long lines to pay their respects.
