Report: Alexandria Resident Pleads Not Guilty in Gun Incident on Capitol Hill

A congressional staffer charged Friday morning with attempting to bring an illegal gun into a Capitol building has pleaded not guilty, according a report by The Hill, a Capitol Hill newspaper.

Alexandria resident Ryan Lee Shucard, who originally hails from Colorado, was placed on unpaid administrative leave after trying to bring a 9 millimeter semi-automatic Smith & Wesson handgun into the Cannon House office building, according to NBC News. 

The Washington Post reported Saturday Shucard, 26, had an ammunition magazine containing nine hollow-point bullets.

Shucard's attorney, DC criminal defense lawyer Jason Kalafat, described his client's actions as unintentional. “Everything points to this being completely inadvertent,” he told the Post Saturday. “Ryan didn’t intend to bring a gun into the office building.”

Shucard is the press secretary for Pennsylvania Republican Tom Marino; Marino represents the 10th District in Pennsylvania.

Here's what Capitol Police said Friday, in an statement: 

"At about 9:15am today, the USCP arrested Ryan Shucard. He is charged with Carrying a Pistol Without a License (Felony). Shucard entered the SE Door of the Cannon House Office Building. A S&W 9mm handgun & magazine were discovered during an administrative search required for entry into the building. Shucard is currently being processed at USCP HQ, 119 D Street, NE."