PULSE POINTS
WHAT HAPPENED: A 21-year-old man was arrested near Seattle’s Space Needle on New Year’s Eve while carrying a shotgun, a handgun, and multiple rounds of ammunition.
WHO WAS INVOLVED: Seattle Police Department (SPD) officers, bystanders, and the 21-year-old suspect.
WHEN & WHERE: December 31, 2025, near the Pacific Science Center, close to the Space Needle in Seattle.
IMPACT: The suspect was booked into King County Jail, issued a one-year trespass warning, and the case was referred to the Seattle City Attorney’s Office for review.
IN FULL
A 21-year-old man was arrested while carrying a shotgun, handgun, and several rounds of ammunition near the Space Needle in Seattle, Washington, during New Year’s Eve celebrations. According to the Seattle Police Department (SPD), bystanders became concerned when the man was seen sitting on a bench near the Pacific Science Center, gripping what appeared to be a partially concealed shotgun.
Law enforcement arrived at the scene around 7:20 PM on December 31 as New Year’s Eve revelers began to gather in the high-traffic area for the city’s fireworks show ringing in 2026. Seattle police were able to approach and detain the armed man without incident.
Witnesses described him as wearing all black clothing and a red hat with “WAR” printed on it. Alongside the shotgun, police discovered he was also carrying a handgun and had a valid concealed pistol license. Additionally, detectives from the Criminal Intelligence Unit and the Arson Bomb Squad searched the suspect’s nearby vehicle. No additional weapons or explosives were found, and the vehicle was deemed safe.
NEW: Seattle police arrested a 21-year-old man carrying a shotgun, a handgun & multiple rounds of ammunition near the Space Needle as crowds gathered for the New Year’s Eve fireworks.
Witnesses reported seeing a man seated on a bench holding a partially concealed shotgun. pic.twitter.com/yDKqBlTQ2f
— Ari Hoffman
(@thehoffather) January 2, 2026
However, the man was booked into the King County Jail on suspicion of unlawful use of weapons. Meanwhile, the Emergency Services Unit, responsible for campus security at the Seattle Center, issued the man a one-year trespass warning. The case was referred to the Seattle City Attorney’s Office for potential charges.
Image by Tiffany Von Arnim.
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The post Cops Thwart New Year’s Eve Threat at Seattle Space Needle. appeared first on The National Pulse.
