Guillotine Arrest Near U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C.

Police investigate why California man drove to Washington with guillotine

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A Southern California man was arrested Tuesday near the U.S. Supreme Court after officers found a guillotine in the bed of his pickup truck, according to the U.S. Capitol Police.

Police identified the man as 35-year-old Philan-Tam-Duy Le, a resident of Julian in San Diego County. He was arrested on suspicion of carrying a dangerous weapon after officers located his black pickup truck, which authorities said was illegally parked in the 100 block of East Capitol Street.

The block sits in the heavily secured area between the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Capitol and the Library of Congress. Authorities said the guillotine was the weapon cited in the arrest, though they did not publicly describe any threat against a specific person or institution.

Family says display was likely political statement

Le's brother, Kelvin Le, said he recognized the truck in photographs released by police and described the guillotine as likely intended as a symbolic expression of political disapproval rather than an instrument meant to harm anyone.

"I don't think he'd hurt anyone," Kelvin Le said. He said his brother had been unhappy with the country's political climate but was not aligned with either major political party. According to Kelvin Le, his brother disliked both California Gov. Gavin Newsom and President Trump, while generally avoiding detailed discussions about the policies he opposed.

Authorities said Le had driven across the country from California. His reasons for traveling to the nation's capital, and for bringing the guillotine to the area around the Supreme Court, had not been established Tuesday.

Kelvin Le said his brother grew up in Carlsbad and had lived in Julian for several years. He described him as someone who frequently traveled and supported himself through creative work, including tattooing and making earrings and other body-piercing items. Le had also briefly worked as a cook at a Vietnamese restaurant in Las Vegas, his brother said.

Capitol Police reviewing suspect's background

The arrest underscores the heightened scrutiny surrounding weapons and suspicious displays near federal institutions in Washington. The Supreme Court and Capitol complex are among the most closely monitored public areas in the city, particularly amid persistent concerns over threats directed at government officials and politically charged demonstrations.

Capitol Police said investigators were reviewing Le's background and attempting to determine why he came to Washington. No injuries were reported, and authorities had not announced additional charges or identified any accomplices as of Tuesday night. The investigation remains ongoing.