A 30-year-old man pleaded guilty Friday to making a bomb threat after he crashed his truck through a CIA headquarters gate in February.
Antoine Lowery, of Washington, admitted to the felony charge in U.S. District Court in Alexandria. He faces up to 10 years in prison.
Lowery drove his a white Chevrolet pickup truck at high speed on George Washington Parkway and rammed the security gate at the intelligence agency’s McLean compound, according to court documents.
The metal barrier swung open and CIA police officers at the security checkpoint swarmed the vehicle with their shotguns and pistols drawn, ordering the driver out of the vehicle.
When Lowery got out of the truck, he repeatedly stated that he had a bomb and the truck was going to blow up, police said.
He also counted down five to zero several times as if waiting for the bomb to explode, police said.
After Lowery was taken into custody, authorities closed the ramps to the parkway, and CIA canine and explosive units inspected the truck and declared the scene safe. It’s unclear why Lowery made the threats.
Lowery had been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of threatening to assault a federal law enforcement officer, making a bomb threat and engaging in unauthorized use of a vehicle. His sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 8.
The incident was reminiscent of recent cases in and around D.C. In January, Michael Gorbey was arrested for carrying a rifle on his way to the U.S. Supreme Court and was found to have a bomb in his truck. He was found guilty of 14 charges Friday.
Two years ago, a gunman smashed his SUV through a security barrier outside the U.S. Capitol, then was captured in the basement of the building.
