WASHINGTON — Police have arrested a Missouri man they believe intentionally crashed a U-Haul truck into a security barrier at a park across from the White House. Investigators believe he was planning to harm President Biden.
Kandula purchased a one-way ticket and flew out of St. Louis Lambert Airport Monday and arrived in Washington, D.C. Federal agents say he rented a U-Haul and headed to the White House.
The box truck’s driver smashed into the barrier near the north side of Lafayette Square on Monday at around 10 p.m., the Secret Service said in a statement. He was identified as 19-year-old Sai Varshith Kandula, of Chesterfield, a St. Louis suburb. No one was injured in the crash.
After the crash, Kandula exited the truck with a Nazi flag and started shouting as Park Police and Secret Service officers approached him.
Court documents state that Kandula stated his goal was to “get to the White House, seize power, and be put in charge of the nation”. He told investigators that he would “Kill the President if that’s what I have to do and would hurt anyone that would stand in my way”.
He had been planning the attack for six months. Kandula said that his attempt to break in was a success because his intention was to send a message to government organizations like the Secret Service.
Kandula also explained why he had a Nazi flag with him. He stated that “Nazi’s have a great history” and that he he admires their “authoritarian nature, Eugenics, and their one world order”.
A box truck is seen crashed into a security barrier at a park across from the White House, Monday night, May 22, 2023 in Washington. Police have arrested a man they believe intentionally crashed a U-Haul truck into a security barrier near the north side of Lafayette Square late Monday night. No one was injured. (Benjamin Berger via AP) 
A U.S. Park Police officer inspects a security barrier for damage in Lafayette Square park near the White House, Tuesday, May 23, 2023, in Washington. A man police believe intentionally crashed a U-Haul truck into a security barrier at Lafayette Square park, across from the White House has been arrested and identified as a 19-year-old suburban St. Louis resident. No one was injured. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) 
Tire marks remain on a curb in Lafayette Square park near the White House, Tuesday, May 23, 2023, in Washington. A man police believe intentionally crashed a U-Haul truck into a security barrier at Lafayette Square park, across from the White House, has been identified as a 19-year-old suburban St. Louis resident. A Secret Service spokesman says the box truck’s driver smashed into the barrier near the north side of Lafayette Square late Monday. No one was injured. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
The U.S. Park Police said Kandula was arrested on multiple charges, including threatening to kill, kidnap or inflict harm on a president, vice president or member of their family; assault with a dangerous weapon; reckless driving; destruction of federal property; and trespassing.
For a man with no known criminal record before Tuesday, federal agents are now swarming. FOX 2 spotted multiple agents going in and out from the front of his Chesterfield house and back. The FBI in St. Louis confirmed it’s assisting in the investigation, as needed.
At one point we saw what appeared to be evidence bags being taken into the house. We’ve been digging through Missouri court records – it does not appear he has any kind of adult criminal record.
The Rockwood School District confirms Kandula graduated from Marquette High School in January 2022 after applying for early graduation. School officials say he participated in student council during his sophomore year and was on the boys’ tennis team during his sophomore and junior years.
The U.S. Secret Service monitors hundreds of people who have made threats to the president, but it’s not clear whether Kandula was on their radar at all or if he had threatened the president before, which would trigger the Secret Service’s involvement.
Lafayette Square, which offers perhaps the best view of the White House available to the public, has long been one of the nation’s most prominent venues for demonstrations. The park was closed for nearly a year after federal authorities fenced off the area at the height of nationwide protests over policing following the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, but it reopened in May 2021.
