A 21-year-old man sat on a bench near the Pacific Science Center on New Year’s Eve, holding a partially concealed shotgun whilst thousands of people gathered nearby for Seattle’s fireworks celebration at the Space Needle.
Witnesses saw him holding the gun by the grip, causing alarm, whilst facing the area where spectators were gathering for the fireworks display.
Seattle police officers assigned near the event centre approached the man at about 7:20 p.m. and arrested him.
The suspect, wearing all black clothing and a red hat with “WAR” written on it, cooperated with police. Officers safely recovered the shotgun.
The suspect was also armed with a handgun and had multiple rounds of ammunition. He had a valid concealed carry permit, Seattle police confirmed.
“Detectives in the Criminal Intelligence Unit responded to assist patrol officers,” Seattle police said. “Community Response Group officers found the suspect’s car nearby. SPD’s Arson Bomb Squad swept the car for potential weapons or explosives, finding none. ABS determined the suspect’s vehicle did not pose a threat.”
The man was booked into the King County Jail for unlawful use of weapons.
The Emergency Services Unit, which provides campus security for Seattle Centre, also issued the man a one-year trespass warning.
The 7:20 p.m. arrest timing came hours before the midnight fireworks display but during the period when crowds were already gathering and security was heightened. New Year’s Eve at the Space Needle draws tens of thousands of people to Seattle Centre, creating a dense concentration of potential targets.
The partially concealed shotgun suggests the man made some attempt to hide the weapon but not enough to prevent witnesses from seeing it. Whether he was trying to avoid detection or simply had the shotgun resting in a position that partially exposed it remains unclear.
Witnesses seeing him holding the gun by the grip whilst facing the gathering crowd indicates he had the weapon in a ready position rather than simply transporting it. Holding a shotgun by the grip suggests potential readiness to use it, though the man ultimately cooperated without resistance.
The all-black clothing and red “WAR” hat create a concerning visual that would reasonably alarm witnesses. The specific choice of clothing and messaging on the hat suggest either a deliberate attempt to project menace or someone with poor judgment about appropriate attire whilst carrying weapons in public.
The cooperation with police prevented what could have escalated into a dangerous confrontation. Officers approaching someone armed with a shotgun and handgun in a crowded area face extreme risk, but the suspect’s decision not to resist allowed peaceful resolution.
The valid concealed carry permit complicates the legal situation. Washington law allows people with concealed pistol licences to carry handguns in public, but carrying a shotgun in a manner causing alarm violates unlawful use of weapons statutes.
The concealed carry permit applies to handguns, not shotguns. Carrying a shotgun partially concealed whilst facing crowds gathered for a major public event crosses legal lines even for someone legally entitled to carry a concealed pistol.
The multiple rounds of ammunition recovered suggests the man came prepared to fire weapons, though whether he intended violence or simply habitually carries ammunition with firearms remains unknown.
The Criminal Intelligence Unit’s involvement indicates police treated this as a potential terrorism or mass casualty threat rather than simple weapons violation. That unit typically handles cases involving potential threats to public safety beyond routine criminal matters.
The Community Response Group finding the suspect’s car nearby and the Arson Bomb Squad sweeping it for weapons or explosives demonstrates the seriousness with which authorities treated the incident. Bomb squad involvement in a weapons arrest suggests concern about planned violence beyond what the recovered weapons represented.
The vehicle search finding no additional weapons or explosives provided some reassurance that the threat was limited to what the suspect carried on his person. However, the fact that authorities felt the need to conduct that search reflects how alarming the initial circumstances appeared.
The unlawful use of weapons charge addresses carrying weapons in a manner that causes reasonable alarm, a lower-level felony than charges like assault or terrorism that might apply if authorities believed the man intended violence.
The one-year trespass warning from Seattle Centre means the man is legally barred from returning to the Space Needle, Pacific Science Centre, or other Seattle Centre facilities for a year. Violating that trespass warning would result in additional criminal charges.
The case raises questions about the man’s intentions that the available information doesn’t answer. Was he planning violence that police intervention prevented? Was he making some kind of political statement? Did he simply have catastrophically poor judgment about carrying weapons near a major public gathering?
The cooperation with police and absence of charges beyond unlawful weapons use suggests authorities didn’t find evidence of planned violence, but the circumstances remain deeply concerning.
