A man broke into Washington’s Capitol Legislative Building Sunday night, starting a fire in the State Reception Room and causing significant damage throughout the building before being arrested by Washington State Patrol troopers within 10 minutes.
Gunnar McLean Schubert parked a car on flower beds in the flag circle fronting the Legislative Building at 10:15 p.m. Sunday and broke into the building through a ground-floor office window, according to a Washington State Patrol spokesperson.
Schubert, allegedly armed with two hammers, caused major damage inside the building including breaking card readers and hand sanitizers, vandalizing flags and statues on the third floor, and starting a fire in the State Reception Room, WSP officials said.
WSP troopers arrived on scene within 30 seconds of the suspect’s arrival. Three troopers searched for the suspect and apprehended him as he exited the building. The entire incident lasted approximately 10 minutes, though the suspect caused significant damage during that time.
Schubert was experiencing a mental health crisis, and the attack was not politically motivated, according to WSP officials. He was booked into Thurston County Jail on charges of burglary, arson, and malicious mischief.
A judge Monday afternoon released Schubert on his own recognizance and ordered him to undergo a mental health evaluation.
Governor Bob Ferguson addressed the incident Monday. “Last night, an intruder broke into the Legislative Building and damaged several facilities and historical artifacts,” Ferguson stated, noting “significant damage” to the State Reception Room with much damage still being assessed.
Speaker Laurie Jinkins (D-Tacoma) said Monday: “This attack on our state Capitol building is deeply troubling to me, and House and Senate leadership are working closely with law enforcement and Capitol security to fully investigate the incident, assess the extent of the damage, and ensure the building remains a safe and secure space for everyone.”
“Washington’s historic Capitol is more than just a building, it is the people’s house, and it must always be a place where legislators, staff, and the public feel safe carrying out the important work of democracy,” Jinkins continued. “While this act of destruction is disturbing, we will not be deterred.”
Lt. Gov. Denny Heck condemned the violence: “Over the last several years, there has been a significant escalation in both violence-tinged political rhetoric and actual violence. We can continue to adapt security measures, and we will, designed to prevent and deter such incidents. The fact remains, however, that we must all do our part in turning down the temperature.”
The Department of Enterprise Services released a damage assessment Monday evening detailing extensive destruction:
In the rotunda, Schubert pulled county flags from raised areas and removed stanchions from the state seal. Columbia County’s flag was burned, with other county flags suffering minor scratches. The state seal sustained minor scratches, while marble floors and rotunda stairs showed surface damage, chips, cracks, and burn damage.
Busts of George Washington and Martin Luther King Jr. were knocked from bases, with both sustaining damage ranging from cracks and chips to surface scuffs.
In the State Reception Room, extensive fire damage destroyed U.S. and Washington state flags, ruined a non-historic piano bench beyond repair, and caused significant damage to a 1928 chenille rug. Original mohair drapery and tiebacks sustained sizeable burn damage, while the original teak floor and piano suffered burn and smoke damage. The historic glass entry door was shattered. Lingering smoke and burn smells permeate the room.
An electronic card reader on an elevator was damaged.
Total repair costs remain unknown. DES is bringing in historic preservation and material experts to assess damage and needed repairs, with a full estimate forthcoming.
DES completed initial cleanup and repairs including ensuring building safety for public use, fixing the elevator card reader, cleaning broken glass and installing temporary screening, cataloguing damaged historic items, and deploying air purifiers to clear smoke.
The building and Capitol Campus remain under heightened security. The incident remains under investigation.
