Amidst the somber occasion of former President Jimmy Carter's lying in state at the U.S. Capitol Rotunda, two separate security incidents unfolded on Wednesday, necessitating swift action from the Capitol Police. Both incidents occurred while President-elect Donald Trump was present to pay his respects.
The first incident involved 35-year-old Adrian J. Hinton from Virginia. Around 5:30 p.m., Hinton allegedly placed a burning bag, filled with accelerants, atop a vehicle near the Grant Memorial. Authorities reported that the bag burned out without igniting the car or surrounding areas. Hinton's own vehicle was found to be spray-painted. He was apprehended and charged with unlawful activities.
Approximately three hours prior to Hinton's arrest, a second individual, 44-year-old Mel J. Horne, attempted to pass through a security checkpoint at the Capitol Visitor Center. Horne was carrying multiple knives, including a machete, which were detected by the X-ray machine. He was subsequently arrested and faces several charges related to carrying dangerous weapons.
Capitol Police Chief J. Thomas Manger emphasized the importance of heightened security, stating that the officers' vigilance prevented potential threats to the Capitol Hill community. Authorities have stated that they do not believe the two incidents were related, and neither disrupted the memorial service for former President Carter.
Carter, who served as the 39th U.S. President, passed away on December 29th at the age of 100. His funeral, scheduled for Thursday morning, is expected to be attended by all five living presidents, with outgoing President Biden delivering the eulogy.
