Officers Stop Assault Rifle From Reaching Capitol Hill: Police

WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. Capitol Police stopped an assault rifle with an extended magazine before it reached Capitol Hill on Friday, according to a news release.

According to Capitol police, a screening team spotted the gun in the backseat of a Ford truck shortly after 5 a.m. Officers confiscated the rifle, which was partially wrapped in a blanket, authorities said.

The driver of the truck, 57-year-old Michael J. Donohue of Maryland, is facing several charges including possession of an unregistered firearm, possession of unregistered ammunition, and unlawful activity.

Investigators are still looking into this case; however, police said there is no evidence Donohue was targeting Congress or the U.S. Capitol.

Last year, U.S. Capitol Police officers confiscated roughly 40 guns on or near the Capitol, according to the release. It is illegal to bring a gun on Capitol grounds.