Court documents reveal motivations in Tacoma mosque standoff
The man who pointed a gun at Islamic Center of Tacoma employees and caused an hours-long standoff Wednesday afternoon was a “community member” experiencing potential mental health issues, court documents indicate.
The 24-year-old intruder’s arrest affidavit details the incident, which began around 1 p.m. Wednesday when he allegedly pointed a semiautomatic pistol at a front desk employee.
The employee told Tacoma Police the suspect had been “acting erratically” throughout the day and was asked to leave the Islamic Center. The worker also noticed the suspect carrying what appeared to be a mason jar with dried mushrooms, and suspected he was high on them, the police report said.
When police entered the facility, they were advised that the suspect went upstairs and took control of the building’s public address system. Police describe hearing the suspect “speaking and singing incoherently” over the public address system.
After all occupants of the Islamic Center and the next door Zenith West Gymnastics Academy were evacuated, officers cleared the building and established containment positions outside, the report said.
About an hour later, the suspect exited the center for the first time and began to yell, “Worship Allah!” the report said. Officers advised that he was under arrest and instructed him to show his hands.
In response, he mocked the commands, waved his hands then returned to the center and closed the doors, according to the police report.
While inside, officers observed him lying on the ground, rolling on the floor, climbing a small rock wall in the building and placing an item emitting a small amount of smoke near a window.
After exiting the building a second time, the suspect laid on the sidewalk refusing to comply while officers again issued verbal commands. The suspect then reportedly stated, “Shut up [expletive],” and placed his hands in his pockets while moving back toward the building.
In response to officers asking to take his hands out of his pockets, he began taking off his clothes, the report said.
The suspect realized the doors to the center locked behind him, and began to walk away from the building and scan the area for escape routes.
While officers moved in to arrest him, the suspect continued to refuse commands and attempted a cartwheel, the report said. At that point an officer fired a 40mm less lethal impact weapon which struck the suspect’s body, but didn’t stop him from running away.
Police pursued the suspect, and he was taken into custody after a short struggle, the report said.
Officers later obtained possession of the suspect’s backpack, which contained a black Glock 17 firearm and a 27-round magazine with 27 live rounds, the report said. A records check of the firearm’s serial number revealed the weapon was stolen out of Auburn.
The suspect faces five charges: second degree assault, first degree unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful carrying of a weapon, obstructing police and resisting arrest.
He also holds previous convictions in Pierce County Superior Court from 2021 of second-degree assault, first degree attempted robbery and unlawful possession of a firearm.
