The Georgia teenager who ran onto the Capitol grounds with a loaded shotgun pleaded guilty Monday to illegally carrying a firearm on the premises, according to court records.On Feb. 16, 2026, Carter Camacho, 18, of Smyrna, Georgia, armed himself with a newly purchased shotgun and drove from his home to Washington, D.C., stopping overnight to sleep in his car at a rest area, prosecutors said.
After arriving in the district the following day, Camacho changed into what he described as “scary attire” — green camouflage pants, a camouflage blouse, and a tactical plate carrier vest — before parking his car and charging toward the Capitol, according to court records.
Prosecutors said Camacho exited his vehicle carrying a loaded shotgun with a round chambered and the safety disengaged. He ran toward the Capitol and only stopped after reaching the south steps on the building’s west side, where he was confronted by armed law enforcement officers.This image from video contained in the Justice Department’s memorandum in support of pretrial detention of Carter Camacho, 18, shows Camacho running near the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Feb. 17, 2026. (Justice Department via AP)This image from video contained in the Justice Department’s memorandum in support of pretrial detention of Carter Camacho, 18, shows Camacho running near the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Feb. 17, 2026. (Justice Department via AP)This image contained in the Justice Department’s memorandum in support of pretrial detention of Carter Camacho, 18, shows items Camacho was carrying near the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Feb. 17, 2026. (Justice Department via AP)
