Mere Days Before Trump’s Inauguration, Police Make Troubling Discovery

Just days before President-elect Donald Trump’s Jan. 20 inauguration, tensions are high nationwide, but particularly in Washington, D.C. Security is heightened in the capital city and what police found shows exactly why that is necessary.

A violin case with two guns inside was found along the Potomac River in Washington on Jan. 17, leading police to find other weapons stashed nearby, reports Fox News.

A woman was reportedly walking in the woods near the C&O Canal along the Potomac River when she spotted the suspicious violin case. After seeing what was inside, she brought the case to authorities nearby. Law enforcement arrived at the area in which she found the case shortly after and searched the area, finding more guns and ammunition in garbage bags and pails nearby.

“At this point, we don’t know how they got there, why they’re here or when they got here,” Sgt. Anna Rose, spokeswoman for the U.S. Park Police, said in a statement.

The Washington D.C. police bomb squad conducted a sweep of the area. Police shut down the surrounding area while they conducted the search, according to WRC-TV.

“Out of an abundance of caution we cleared the area to be sure no bombs or anything threatened anybody, and we found other multiple gun and ammo,” Rose said. 

Police are still investigating the items, trying to determine whether the guns were used in any crimes.

“There’s no indication as to why these guns were here, when they came to be here or circumstances,” Rose said “That’s all under investigation.”

Rose says that she and her fellow officers are appreciative of the woman who found the weapons for coming forward and reporting her findings, which helps make the area safer.

“This woman saw something, and she chose to come forward and say, giving us the opportunity to make this area safe for everybody, and as we approach the inauguration that’s important,” Rose said. 

Sources: WRC-TV, Fox News / Photo credit: Barbara Joan Saffir via WRC-TV