Associated Press
PHOENIX — A man armed with guns and ammunition was arrested Thursday at the Phoenix Comicon convention after posting online threats against city police officers, authorities said.
“The threats indicated that he was armed and intended to kill police officers,” said Sgt. Mercedes Fortune, a police spokeswoman.
She said the 30-year-old man was found to be in possession of three handguns, a shotgun, a knife, ammunition, and a variety of other handheld weapons along with wearing body armor.
He was taken into custody without incident after a brief struggle with police, according to Fortune.
The man’s name wasn’t immediately released, but authorities said he lives in the Phoenix metro area.
“He was immediately removed from the venue and taken to police headquarters for questioning,” Fortune said. “At this time, there is no evidence to cause investigators to believe this is anything more than an isolated incident and not part of a grander scheme.”
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Fortune said officers working at the Phoenix Convention Center were alerted about noon to a suspicious man making threats against police on social media and the postings included photos of officers working the event.
The entertainment and comic convention began Thursday at the Phoenix Convention Center in the downtown area.
Prop weapons carried into the four-day event are supposed to be inspected by security staff, but police say the man’s weapons weren’t checked.
Police said extra security is being added with additional screening and fewer accessible entrances to the building.
“As an added precaution, weapons of any kinds — including simulated, replica or toy weapons — will not be permitted into the venue,” Fortune added.