Seattle police say the man, whose prior convictions include burglary and theft of a firearm, was not legally permitted to possess a firearm.
A judge has set bail at $50,000 for a 29-year-old man accused of firing an assault-style rifle to celebrate the Fourth of July in West Seattle.
The suspect’s second court appearance is scheduled for Thursday at the King County Jail.
Court records show the man’s prior convictions include burglary, theft of a firearm, and attempted unlawful possession of a firearm. As a result, he is prohibited from possessing guns, according to an affidavit of probable cause outlining the police case.
Two police officers were at the state Department of Social and Health Services offices at 4045 Delridge Way S.W. around 11:30 p.m. Monday when they heard six to eight rapid-fire gunshots nearby, according to the affidavit.
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As they drove in the direction of the gunshots, the officers were advised by a 911 dispatcher that the shots were fired on 25th Avenue Southwest. Officers spoke with a group of witnesses who said they saw a male with long hair shooting a “long gun” into the air from the porch of an apartment in the 4100 block of 25th Avenue Southwest.
The officers split up to cover the front and back of the apartment, the affidavit said.
The officer at the rear of the apartment saw a man walk out holding a rifle. The man ignored the officer’s orders to stop and put the gun down, and ran back inside the apartment with the gun.
After several minutes of repeated orders from police, the man and nine other people walked out of the apartment, police said. The officers were given permission to search the apartment and found an AK-47 inside as well as 16 spent casings in the front yard, according to the affidavit.
The suspect told police he had fired the weapon in celebration while fireworks went off, the affidavit said.
The suspect was initially arrested for suspicion of discharging a firearm and reckless endangerment, but was booked for investigation of unlawful possession of a firearm after police became aware of his criminal history, the affidavit said.
Police are requesting that prosecutors additionally charge him with discharging a firearm and reckless endangerment.