Firearms Owners Against Crime
Institute for Legal, Legislative and Educational Action
Institute for Legal, Legislative and Educational Action
REDMOND, Wash. -- A 23-year-old Redmond man who police say made "concerning Twitter posts posing with weapons and referencing the Joker movie" has had several guns -- including two assault weapons -- removed from his home as part of an "Extreme Protection Order," Redmond police said.
Investigators became aware of the posts last week, including one dated Sept. 26 showing the man holding two AK-47 guns -- one in each hand, pointing skyward, fingers on triggers. The caption on the photo read: "One ticket for joker please," according to Redmond police.
The post comes as U.S. officials had issued warnings about the potential for mass shootings at the movie, which opened on Thursday to increased security around the Seattle-area movie theaters. FBI intelligence officials had uncovered social media posts related to extremists classified as 'incels' -- short for "involuntary celibate" -- and the man had been claiming to be one of them.
Investigators learned that the man had previous disturbing and threatening social media posts toward women in 2017, according to Redmond police's petition for being granted an Extreme Protection Order.
More recent posts last month show the man with several guns in his home, tucked into his waistband or displayed in wooded areas, police said. In addition, he showed photos of high capacity magazines filled with rifle rounds and indicated he uses gun kits to make "ghost guns" -- guns without serial numbers, according to police.
The man had been issued a concealed permit license in May for two handguns, but he was found to have eight weapons and his license has been revoked, Redmond police said. Police officers were able to remove all the guns from his house Wednesday without incident.
"With the upcoming release of the movie that (suspect) indicated he would bring firearms to, the Redmond Police are troubled that moviegoers may be at risk of serious injury or death if (suspect) continues to have access, possession or ability to purchase firearms," Redmond Police said in their petition for the protection order. The order would last for one year.
The man has not been charged with a crime but is expected to have a court hearing on Oct. 15. The man does not have a prior criminal history nor have police had contact with him before, according to Andrea Wolf-Buck with Redmond Police.