Armed man arrested near US Capitol identified as sex offender from Atlanta

Authorities have identified the armed man apprehended near the United States Capitol in Washington, DC on Tuesday as Ahmir Lavon Merrell of Georgia. 

The 21-year-old Atlanta native was tased and arrested by US Capitol Police in a park just blocks from the house of government after refusing to drop his firearm.

According to WSB-TV, Merrell has a history of criminal activity, including convictions for sex crimes involving minors. In March of 2019, he was arrested in Fulton County for allegedly molesting a child, but managed to receive a plea deal.

As part of the deal, his charges were reduced to cruelty to children, and he was forced to register as a sex offender until he turned 21, which he did in January of 2023.

Merrell's mother claimed that he was the only one of her children that seemed to always get into trouble, and pushed authorities to lengthen his prison term to ensure he was behind bars until his twenty-fifth birthday.

The incident took place on Tuesday, in the park across from Union Station at Delaware Avenue and Columbus Circle NE around 12:40pm. A witness first notified police of "a man with a rifle," and a few minutes later, officers sprung into action.

They demanded that Merrell drop his weapon, and when he failed to do so, he was tased. While he was subdued, officers arrested him and confiscated the gun.

According to the USCP, "it is not yet clear what Merrell was doing in Washington, DC." He has been charged with felon in possession of a firearm, unregistered ammunition, unregistered firearm, fugitive from justice, and unlawful activities.
 

"'See something, say something' is not just an empty slogan," USCP Chief Tom Manger said. "We are grateful for the individual who alerted our officer to the man with a gun in the park. These cops immediately ran toward the man with the loaded gun. As always, I am proud of our cops."