Domestic Violence Suspect With Gun Stash Arrested In Seattle

SEATTLE, WA - Police confiscated a large stockpile of guns on Sunday from a Seattle man after a domestic violence assault. Enraged about a breakup with his girlfriend, the suspect threatened to "blow up" his neighborhood and shoot himself, police said.

Around 9 p.m. Sunday, East Precinct officers met the woman at the suspect's home. She told police the suspect had thrown a flask at her after she broke off their seven-year relationship. The 45-year-old suspect had apparently been drinking during the day.

The suspect was hiding in the basement of the home, but police were able to convince him to come out. He was arrested on charges of domestic violence assault and domestic violence threats. The ex-girlfriend asked police to take his guns.

According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV), the presence of guns increases the chance of death in a domestic violence situation by 500 percent, and women are about 11 times more likely to be murdered with a gun by a partner than in other high-income countries. According to an Associated Press analysis of police records, a woman is shot by a partner every 16 hours in the U.S.

Domestic violence situations are also extremely dangerous for police. In November 2016, Tacoma officer Jake Gutierrez was shot and killed responding to a domestic violence call. In mid-December, two Bremerton police officers were shot in a firefight with a man who had a history of domestic violence arrests.

Washington state has the only law in the U.S. that requires domestic violence victims be alerted if their abuser attempts to buy a gun. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, there are resources in King County to help. Check for programs near you at the Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence website.

Images courtesy Seattle police