Capitol Police stop armed 21-year-old suspect wearing ski mask outside of RNC security perimeter

Arrested man reported to have AK-47 pistol, ‘Scream’ Halloween mask

A 21-year-old was arrested near the RNC in Milwaukee with a gun and a ski mask, police said (AP)

Two days after Donald Trump came within inches of being gravely wounded or killed in what authorities called an assassination attempt, another scary scene was abruptly averted by members of US Capitol Police at the Republican National Convention.

On Monday evening, thousands of RNC delegates, staff, and other Republicans poured into the Fiserv Center in Milwaukee for day one of the the GOP nominating contest. While Trump himself as well as his newly-named running mate JD Vance were inside, police officers encountered a man with a ski mask and a gun outside, according to Milwaukee Police.

A 21-year-old man is in custody and awaiting charges after Milwaukee police said he was stopped by Capitol police officers on a street outside of the RNC security perimeter, which extends for several blocks around the convention center.

According to a statement released to The Independent, the man was thought to be acting suspiciously, dressed in a ski mask and wearing a larger tactical backpack on the sweltering, muggy city streets.

“Milwaukee Police arrested a 21-year-old man for carrying a concealed weapon on July 15, 2024, at approximately 1:00 p.m., on the 1200 block of N. 11th Street. United States Capitol Police initially observed the suspect looking suspicious, wearing a ski mask and a large tactical backpack in the street,” said Sgt Efrain Cornejo, a spokesman for MPD.

“United States Capitol Police performed a subject stop, and it was determined that the suspect was concealing a firearm in his backpack. The suspect does not have a legal CCW permit in Wisconsin or any other state. The suspect was arrested, and charges are pending review by the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office.”

A 21-year-old was arrested near the RNC in Milwaukee with a gun and a ski mask, police said (AP)

Upon searching the individual, troubling discoveries were made: In addition to his ski mask, the man was carrying an “AK-47 pistol”, Fox reported, as well as a mask styled as the horror-movie slasher “Scream”, and a full clip of ammunition.

Milwaukee police confirmed his arrest to a local news outlet, CBS 48.

The Independent has reached out to Capitol police and the Milwaukee Police Department for confirmation of the details surrounding the arrest and the items found on the man during his detention.

Officers with MPD also told multiple outlets Tuesday evening that the man did not have a valid concealed carry permit in Wisconsin or any other state.

The name of the suspect has not been released. Police have not said if they believed the suspect was looking to target the RNC.

The arrest comes days after a 20-year-old gunman got within 500 feet of Trump during a rally in Pennsylvania. The shooter got off shots, wounding the former president in the ear before Secret Service snipers shot the suspect dead. Trump has since appeared at the RNC with a bandage covering his ear as both parties denounced the attempted assassination.

This report initially misstated the arrest date as July 16. The arrest was made July 15.