Man with machete arrested at US Capitol while President Carter lies in state

Jan 8

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Lauren Taylor Anchor/Reporter

By Lauren Taylor (Anchor/Reporter), Zachary Hill (Video Editor)

U.S. Capitol police say they stopped a man carrying a machete as he entered the Capitol building Wednesday, Jan. 8. The arrest took place as members of the public paid their respects to President Jimmy Carter, who’s currently lying in state.

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In a thread on X, Capitol police said the man, 44-year-old Mel J. Horne of Washington, D.C., entered the north doors of the Capitol Visitors Center. Officers spotted the machete in his bag during his screening. Police stopped the X-ray machine, arrested Horne and secured the machete.

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Officers also found three other knives in Horne’s bag, police said.

Horne was arrested on multiple counts of carrying a dangerous weapon.

“Our officers know they cannot let their guard down for one second. It is this constant focus and attention to detail that helps keep this campus safe,” U.S. Capitol Police Chief J. Thomas Manger said in a statement.

The public viewing of President Carter’s body was not interrupted and will continue throughout the night, police confirmed.

Thousands of visitors have braved snow, ice and freezing temperatures to pay their respects at the Capitol Rotunda, where Carter lies in state ahead of his state funeral Thursday, Jan. 9.

Police said they are investigating Horne’s motive and will provide more information when it becomes available.

Tags: Capitol Hill, Capitol Police, Crime, Jimmy Carter

US CAPITOL POLICE SAY THEY STOPPED A MAN WHO WAS CARRYING A MACHETE FROM ENTERING THE CAPITOL BUILDING IN WASHINGTON, DC WEDNESDAY WHILE PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER’S BODY LIES IN STATE.

IN A THREAD ON X, CAPITOL POLICE SAID THE MAN 44-YEAR-OLD MEL J HORNE OF WASHINGTON DC ENTERED THE NORTH DOORS OF THE CAPITOL VISITORS CENTER AND WAS BEING SCREENED WHEN OFFICERS SPOTTED A MACHETE IN THE HIS BAG. POLICE STOPPED THE X-RAY MACHINE, ARRESTED HORNE AND SECURED THE MACHETE.

POLICE SAY THREE OTHER KNIVES WERE ALSO FOUND IN HORNE’S BAG.

HE WAS ARRESTED FOR MULTIPLE COUNTS OF CARRYING A DANGEROUS WEAPON.

“OUR OFFICERS KNOW THEY CANNOT LET THEIR GUARD DOWN FOR ONE SECOND. IT IS THIS CONSTANT FOCUS AND ATTENTION TO DETAIL THAT HELPS KEEP THIS CAMPUS SAFE,” U.S. CAPITOL POLICE CHIEF J. THOMAS MANGER SAID.

PUBLIC VIEWING OF PRESIDENT CARTER WAS NOT STOPPED AND WILL CONTINUE THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT, POLICE SAID.

THOUSANDS OF VISITORS HAVE BRAVED SNOW, ICE, AND FREEZING CONDITIONS TO PAY RESPECTS AT THE CAPITOL ROTUNDA WHILE CARTER LIES IN STATE AHEAD OF HIS STATE FUNERAL ON THURSDAY.

POLICE SAY THEY ARE INVESTIGATING HORNE’S MOTIVE AND WILL GIVE MORE INFORMATION WHEN IT’S AVAILABLE.