The man who scaled a fence and burst into the White House on Friday had a car full of weapons and ammunition at the time of his arrest, authorities revealed Monday.
Prosecutors said 42-year-old Omar Jose Gonzalez had 800 rounds of ammunition, two hatchets, and a machete in his car on Friday. He was also arrested in July after a high-speed chase in Virginia in which police discovered his car was loaded with guns and other unsettling items.
Among the items found in Mr. Gonzales' vehicle in July was a mini-arsenal of 11 guns including two shotguns and four rifles, some equipped with scopes and bipods that a sniper would use and "a map of Washington, D.C., with writing and a line drawn to the White House," law enforcement officials said. He also had four pistols, three of them loaded, and a revolver. The inventory of Mr. Gonzales' vehicle listed by the Virginia State Police indicates the items were found stored in his vehicle's "bulky floor." [The New York Times]
Gonzalez on Friday somehow managed to climb a fence, race across the lawn, and enter the White House's north entrance before security tackled him. President Obama and his family had left minutes earlier for Camp David.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Are boomers the real phone addicts?In The Spotlight There’s an ‘explosion in screentime’ among older people – and they’re more vulnerable to misinformation
-
West End Girl: a ‘tremendously touching’ break-up albumThe Week Recommends Lily Allen’s unfiltered new work is ‘littered with relatable moments’
-
Are car headlights are too bright?The Explainer 82% of UK drivers concerned about being ‘dazzled’ as LED bulbs become more common
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstancesSpeed Read
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2Speed Read
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governorSpeed Read
-
Los Angeles city workers stage 1-day walkout over labor conditionsSpeed Read
-
Mega Millions jackpot climbs to an estimated $1.55 billionSpeed Read
-
Bangladesh dealing with worst dengue fever outbreak on recordSpeed Read
-
Glacial outburst flooding in Juneau destroys homesSpeed Read
-
Scotland seeking 'monster hunters' to search for fabled Loch Ness creatureSpeed Read
