Armed man arrested after hours-long standoff at Tacoma, WA mosque
TACOMA, Wash. - Tacoma police arrested a man after he allegedly pointed a handgun at a worker inside a local mosque, triggering an hours-long standoff.
What we know:
Officers were called out to the Islamic Center of Tacoma around 3:30 p.m. Wednesday to reports of a disruptive person inside the building. The 911 caller stated the suspect had been asked to leave earlier in the day.
According to arrest reports, the suspect pulled out a handgun and pointed it at a front desk worker. The worker then fled to a nearby convenience store to contact law enforcement.
Police arrived on scene and began evacuating the building, including an attached children's gymnastics facility where dozens of staff and children were still inside.
The armed suspect allegedly moved upstairs and took control of the building's PA system, singing and making incoherent statements over the building's loudspeakers. Additional units responded and surrounded the mosque.
(FOX 13 Seattle)
A manager said the suspect flashed a Glock handgun tucked in his waistband earlier in the day, according to court documents. The manager also said the suspect had recently been released from prison and appeared to be experiencing a severe mental health crisis.
After several hours, the suspect emerged from the mosque. Police said he ignored commands, yelled belligerently at officers, and began taking off his clothes. After realizing the doors behind him were locked, he attempted to run away.
After a brief foot pursuit, an officer hit the suspect with a less-lethal foam round, and he was tackled to the ground on the northeast corner of the lot. He was medically cleared and later booked into Pierce County Jail for first-degree assault, first-degree unlawful possession of a firearm, and obstruction.
Inside the building, officers located the suspect's jacket, phone, and a black backpack containing a Glock 17 handgun and three loaded magazines. The gun was reported stolen out of Auburn.
What's next:
The suspect made his first appearance in court on Thursday, but he has yet to be formally charged.
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The Source: Information in this story came from the Tacoma Police Department and court documents filed in Pierce County Superior Court.