Police officers from the East Precinct have taken a 19-year-old man into custody following an incident involving a firearm that occurred last Saturday. According to the Seattle Police Department, the arrest happened at 2:39 a.m. near 10th Avenue and East Pike Street after victims reported that a man in a silver vehicle had brandished a gun at them. Officers quickly located and stopped the suspect vehicle at a gas station on the 1500 block of Broadway.
The traffic stop led to the detention of four individuals: the 19-year-old driver and three passengers aged 14, 19, and 20. A subsequent routine check determined that both adult passengers had histories of violent felonies, though no active warrants were found for any of the car's occupants. The driver was allegedly the individual who confronted the victims directly and was arrested on charges of assault. Following the arrest, the car was impounded for further examination under a search warrant.
Digging further into the incident, a thorough search of the vehicle unearthed three handguns, each equipped with extended magazines. Moreover, one of the firearms was modified with a device thought to convert the gun from semi-automatic to fully automatic fire illegally. In addition, a second handgun was found with its serial number removed – a typical signature of illegal weapons trafficking.
Other concerning items found in the car included two ski masks and a trio of blue bandanas. The suspect is currently housed at King County Jail with charges pending for second-degree assault and unlawful possession of a firearm, as the Homicide/Assault Unit spearheads the ongoing investigation.
