Man Accused of Flashing Shotgun in Seattle Crowd Faces Gun Charges

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A Disturbing Incident at Seattle’s New Year’s Eve Celebration

Thousands of people gathered in Seattle this week to celebrate New Year’s Eve, anticipating the annual fireworks show at one of the city’s most iconic landmarks. However, the event took a tense turn when a man stopped on a lawn and opened his coat to reveal a loaded shotgun, alarming witnesses and an officer nearby.

The incident occurred in a densely populated and well-lit area overlooking the Space Needle observation tower. The man was wearing all black clothing with a red hat branded with the word “WAR.” Moments later, officers detained him and discovered he was also carrying a pistol and multiple rounds of ammunition, according to Seattle police.

Marcos Campos Lezama, 21, was taken into custody just after 7 p.m. Wednesday without incident and charged with unlawful use of weapons to intimidate, a misdemeanor offense, as per court documents. His bail was set at $10,000, and he is being held at the King County Correctional Facility, the documents state.

Lezama made a court appearance Friday and pleaded not guilty, according to court documents. It has not been determined if he has an attorney.

According to the police report, Lezama had a valid concealed carry permit. He was holding a shotgun loaded with a combination of projectiles typically seen by people who are planning to fire a shotgun at varying ranges “and/or when anticipating using shotguns against people with armor or using cover.”

What also concerned police was the presence of foam hearing protection in his pockets along with the additional projectiles. This is described as extremely uncommon with suspects possessing firearms, leading police to believe that Lezama planned to use the firearms he brought to the event.

In the report, police referenced threats across the nation to New Year’s Eve celebrations. They cited the New Orleans terror attack last year and a separate incident in Los Angeles two weeks ago, which led to the arrest of four people for allegedly working together on a bomb plot set to take place around the city on New Year’s Eve.

After Lezama’s arrest, detectives in the city’s criminal intelligence unit responded to assist patrol officers. They located his car nearby, and the agency’s arson bomb squad “swept the car for potential weapons or explosives, finding none,” the agency added.

Efforts have been made to contact the Seattle City Attorney’s Office, which filed the charges against Lezama. However, no immediate response was received.

This incident has raised concerns about public safety during large gatherings and highlights the importance of vigilance in preventing potential threats. Authorities continue to monitor the situation and ensure the community remains safe.