A significant incident unfolded early Sunday morning in downtown Olympia, where a 28-year-old man was arrested for threatening four teenagers with a handgun. The confrontation began around 4 a. m. near the Intercity Transit Center, following reports of a gunshot that alarmed witnesses in the area. According to Police Lt.

Paul Lower, the altercation escalated when the suspect confronted the boys, who were reportedly being loud and may have knocked down tents occupied by homeless residents. In a frightening turn of events, the suspect fired a shot into the air, prompting the teens to flee in fear. Upon detaining the suspect, police obtained a search warrant for his vehicle, where they found the handgun and narcotics. The man was subsequently booked on multiple charges, including felony harassment/threat to kill while armed. This alarming event raises concerns about public safety and the handling of conflicts in urban spaces.

It remains unclear if the teen accused of damaging the tents will face any charges.