Loaded rifle falls from car in Pioneer Square, 29-year-old arrested

A 29-year-old man was arrested Sunday morning after a loaded rifle fell out of his vehicle in Pioneer Square.

At approximately 2:15 a.m., Seattle Police Department (SPD) officers were enforcing trespass hours in parking lots near the 300 block of 2nd Ave. S. to deter gun violence, SPD announced. During this patrol, an SPD sergeant detained a man after a loaded short-barreled rifle with a 30-round magazine fell out of his vehicle.

Unlawfully possessed firearm seized in Pioneer Square

The suspect, a denied firearm applicant, was arrested without incident. The suspect was released from custody following an SPD investigation.

“One of the sergeants on that emphasis patrol detained a man after they found a loaded short-barreled rifle with a 30-round magazine fell out of his vehicle. So, officers arrested him and found he’s a denied firearm applicant, and he was in possession of that rifle,” SPD Detective Eric Munoz explained.

SPD recommended criminal charges to the city attorney’s office for unlawful possession of a loaded rifle in a motor vehicle. The gun was seized as evidence.

“We detained and arrested a man who was in possession of a rifle he shouldn’t have been and possibly prevented something more serious,” Munoz said.

Acting Assistant Chief Rob Brown emphasized the department’s focus on enforcing trespassing hours in Pioneer Square to reduce gun violence.

“This strategy has been very effective at seizing unlawfully possessed guns from an area that has traditionally been impacted by nightlife gun violence incidents,” Brown said.

Contributing: James Lynch, KIRO Newsradio

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