North Sound News

Would-be car thief held at gunpoint outside gun store

LYNNWOOD, Wash. — A would-be car thief in Lynnwood discovered he'd made a huge mistake.

The incident happened outside Lynnwood Gun during daylight hours early Sunday evening.

Lynnwood police say employees held the thief at gunpoint after forcing him out of a customer's truck.

Police say the suspect had managed to get inside a truck parked in clear view of all the traffic on Highway 99 and just feet from a store full of guns and gun owners.

Customer Matt Beals was already a Lynnwood Gun regular. After what he witnessed Sunday, he said he’s a customer for life.

"These guys are great in the store. They're really well trained, really knowledgeable and they just handled it like they were experts in this,” said Beals.

Matt watched from inside the shop as two employees confronted a man already inside a customer's truck - and attempting to steal it.

"One of the employees had him at gunpoint, giving him commands to get out of the car,” said Beals.

Eventually, the pair got the suspect on the ground and Matt was able to take a picture from his vantage point inside the store.

Lynnwood police were there minutes later. The 33-year-old man was arrested.

It was the only outcome Beals even considered happening.

"Well, four employees and then a gun store full of gun owners,” he said.

Want to talk about the news of the day? Join the conversation on this story and read trending headlines on the KIRO 7 News Facebook page. Follow @KIRO7Seattle here