North Carolina police arrested a man with multiple guns and over 250 rounds of ammunition early Tuesday, and the chief is praising his officers for "preventing a potential mass shooting."
The incident happened at about 12:30 a.m. when Boone police responded to a call concerning a man with a gun outside a bar across the street from Appalachian State University, WSOC-TV reports. A 59-year-old man—later identified as Peter Modiene Gabaree—had been asked to leave the bar after having only one drink.
Gabaree went outside and took out a tactical vest from his pickup truck. He also retrieved a shotgun, a Ruger P94 pistol and 268 rounds of ammunition.
While Gabaree was at his truck, two students began talking to him.
“He asked the boys to ask our door guy if the wallet was in there. So those boys came over and said, 'Hey, that guy’s looking for his wallet and, by the way, he has a gun," the bar's owner told WSOC, adding that the employee immediately called 9-1-1.
Once police reached the scene, officers found Gabaree holding a loaded handgun. He dropped the pistol when ordered, but officers had to force him to the ground when he resisted arrest.
“I would like to commend our officers for their quick actions and preventing a potential mass shooting here in Boone,” said Chief Andy Le Beau said in a statement. “This was obviously a dangerous situation. We are grateful to the citizen who saw this suspicious activity and called us. Our officers interrupted a man who had put on a ballistic vest and was loading weapons in his car. I am thankful to Sergeant Scott Mackler and his patrol shift for their courage in confronting and taking into custody this armed individual to safeguard our community.”
Gabaree was charged with going armed to the terror of the public (common law) and misdemeanor resisting officers.
