A man attending Comicon in Phoenix, AZ Thursday added a little something special to his costume: guns. But not just any guns, actual firearms… a freaking arsenal of them!
Officers said the 30-year-old Valley man was armed with a shotgun, three handguns, and knives, as well as ammunition and “other handheld weapons.” Police said he was wearing body armor.
He struggled with officers, according to police, but nobody was injured in the incident. He has not been identified.
A woman reported that the man was posting photos of Phoenix police officers from the event on social media. Police immediately responded to take him into custody around noon.
“You always hear us say ‘If you see something, say something,'” said Sgt. Mercedes Fortune. “This is a great example of that.”
Fortune said the weapons were not checked by security, and clarified police believe this is an isolated incident.
Police officials believe the man intended to attack officers, but thanks to the swift action taken by police, the suspect was taken into custody before that could occur.
Police said there will be more intensive screening to guard against any other weapons getting inside the event, which will likely slow down entry lines into the event. Prop weapons will no longer be allowed inside, but vendors will be able to sell toy weapons if they are sealed.
The Phoenix Comicon runs until Sunday.
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