Armed Man Arrested Outside CIA Headquarters in Virginia After Threatening with Gun and Causing Lockdown

On the morning of March 19, 2025, a chilling scene unfolded outside the CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia, as a disheveled man, armed and making threats, was taken into custody by law enforcement.

The suspect, who has yet to be identified, caused a security scare when he was spotted holding a handgun and making threatening gestures near the agency’s base.

Police Respond to Armed Threat Near CIA Headquarters

Dressed in camouflage and sporting long hair and a beard, the man sent the CIA into lockdown mode while police, SWAT teams, and bomb squads rushed to the scene.

Witnesses described a “massive” response from law enforcement, with authorities quickly securing the area.

The man reportedly experienced a “mental health crisis,” and had been seen sitting on a bench outside the headquarters before directing his weapon at the building.

Early Reports of Gunshots Prove False

Initial reports falsely claimed that the suspect had fired his gun into the air, heightening concerns.

However, a law enforcement source later confirmed to WJLA that no shots were actually fired during the incident.

Thankfully, no injuries or deaths were reported, and the situation was ultimately contained by police.

Nearby School on Lockdown Amidst Tensions

As the tense situation unfolded, a nearby school was also placed on lockdown as a precautionary measure.

The quick action by law enforcement ensured that the incident did not escalate further, but it remains unclear exactly what prompted the man to target the CIA headquarters that morning.

The Incident Comes Hours After JFK Document Release

The timing of the standoff also raised eyebrows, coming just hours after President Trump had ordered the release of classified documents related to the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

While conspiracy theories have long suggested that the CIA was involved in the assassination, there is no indication that the gunman’s actions were related to the release of these files.

A History of Security Incidents at CIA Headquarters

This is not the first time the CIA headquarters has been the site of a security scare.

In 2021, an armed man was wounded in a shooting incident involving an FBI agent.

In 1993, two CIA employees were tragically killed, and three others were injured when a Pakistani man opened fire outside the Langley headquarters.

Despite these incidents, Wednesday’s event was resolved without casualties.