A Department of Homeland Security contract employee was arrested at the agency’s Washington, D.C., headquarters Monday for attempting to bring a firearm into one of the country’s most secure government facilities, according to a NBC-4 report Tuesday afternoon.
It’s the second gun-related incident to take place at the Nebraska Avenue NW facility over the past month.
Security officials detected a 9-millimeter handgun on Thomas Pressley of Woodbridge, Va., during a random screening of building entrants.
“While we currently have no information to suggest that this individual sought to cause harm, as discussed at a recent employee town hall, the safety of employees and visitors to DHS facilities is a top priority. The enhanced security procedures discussed at that meeting remain in effect, including increased levels of screening of employees entering the NAC,” a DHS spokesman told NBC-4.
Pressley, an information technology contractor, was charged with carrying a gun without a license. He is being held at a Washington, D.C., jail until his court appearance Friday.
In June, Homeland Security employee Jonathan Wienke was arrested for attempting to carry a gun into the same building.
