Grant County deputies intervene when guns show up at crowded concert
UPDATE: Aug. 24, 2022
Grant County Sheriff’s Office is back-tracking a recent assessment this morning. Officials now say they no longer believe a mass shooting was intended when an armed man was arrested outside the Gorge Amphitheater last Friday.
It is still unclear why the man reportedly loaded two handguns from the rear of his car and lingered outside the concert. The Sheriff's Office didn't say exactly why it changed its mind about the man's suspected intent, but says it is still investigating the case. The man has since posted $10,000 bail and will be in court again next month. He has pled not guilty to one count of possession of a dangerous weapon and one count of unlawful carrying or handling of a weapon.
Deputies took him into custody after concert-goers said they saw him placing two loaded pistols in his waistband. They also said he was asking what exit people would use once the concert was over.
According to a statement from the Sheriff's Office:
"Detectives have interviewed (the man) and have served search warrants on two vehicles. While the investigation is not yet finished, what we can say is that we now don’t feel that his intent was to cause a mass shooting.
We remind everyone: If you see something, say something. The concertgoers did the right thing by reporting suspicious activity, and we appreciate their involvement."
ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Aug. 22, 2022
Grant County Sheriff deputies believe they may have prevented a mass shooting amid a sold-out Friday night concert at the Gorge Amphitheater.
They arrested a 31-year-old man — a resident of nearby Ephrata — outside the gates of the amphitheater. He had two loaded pistols on him — one hidden in his waistband.
Event security were alerted to the man's presence when concertgoers allegedly witnessed him inhale a gas from a balloon, before loading the firearms in the trunk of his car. He then asked passersby what exit people would be using once the event was over. He never entered the concert grounds, however.
Deputies disarmed the man outside the venue and took him to jail. The Grant County Sheriff's Office notes that there were approximately 25,000 people attending the concert, the Bass Canyon electronic music dance festival.
The main lesson that deputies are promoting from this incident: If you see something, say something.
According to a statement from the Sheriff's Office: "Remember: if you see something, say something. Citizens saw something completely out of place for the circumstances and notified security, who in turn notified deputies. That combination of situational awareness along with noticing 'something does not fit' resulted in a possible tragedy being prevented."
It's not the only incident involving firearms and crowded, public spaces where Grant County deputies have intervened recently. The Sheriff's Office increased security at the Grant County Fairgrounds following an incident involving "youth violence." Stemming from that incident, a 15-year-old boy with a handgun was arrested at the fair Friday evening.
