Mall shooter accused ‘zombie-like’ when arrested
BURLINGTON, Washington: The 20-year-old suspect in the deadly Washington state mall shooting said nothing and appeared “zombie-like” when he was arrested by authorities nearly 24 hours into an intense manhunt, authorities said.
Island County Sheriff ’s Lieutenant Mike Hawley said he spotted Arcan Cetin from a patrol car on Saturday evening in Oak Harbor, Washington, and immediately recognised him as the suspect who killed five people at the Cascade Mal.
Hawley said they had received information that Cetin was in the area. Cetin, who immigrated to the US from Turkey, is a legal permanent resident living in Oak Harbo. He had been arrested once before in the county for assault, Hawley said.
“I hit my brakes. We both jumped out with our guns, and he just froze.” Cetin was unarmed and was carrying a satchel with a computer in it. “He was kind of zombie-like,” Hawley said.
The suspect’s arrest capped a frantic search following the slayings of five people the day before.
The first 911 call came in just before 7pm on a busy Friday at the mall. A man with a rifle was shooting at people in the Macy’s store.
By the time police arrived moments later, the carnage at the Macy’s make-up counter was complete. Four people were dead, and the shooter was gone. The fifth victim, a man, died in the early morning hours of Saturday.
Authorities said it now appears the rifle was brought into the mall from the suspect’s vehicle.
Cetin has not been charged. He will be booked into the Skagit County Jail and is expected to appear in court day.
Skagit County court records show three domestic-violence assault charges against Cetin. The victim was identified as his stepfather.
Cetin was also was arrested for drunk driving. An Island County District Court judge on December 29 told Cetin he was not to possess a firearm. The stepfather told the judge his stepson was “going through a hard time”.
Critical questions remained, including the shooter’s motive. Initially the suspect was described as Hispanic, based on witness statements. Surveillance video captured the suspect entering the mall unarmed and then 10 minutes later brandishing the rifle. Four women and the man died.