SALT LAKE CITY, Jan. 11, 2025 — Salt Lake City police officers responding to a report of a person making threats at a coffee shop on Main Street Saturday ended up seizing a “mostly assembled rifle” from a man at City Creek Center.
In a news release, SLCPD said the investigation started at 5:30 p.m., when “SLC911 received information about a disturbance at a coffee shop, located at 80 South Main Street.”
Officers seized a disassembled rifle from a 33-year-old man at City Creek Center in downtown, the news release states.
“Based on the preliminary investigation, a 33-year-old man made a statement that caused an employee of the coffee shop to be concerned for the safety of another person,” the release says.
“The employee also reported seeing what appeared to be components of a firearm in a backpack in possession of the 33-year-old man, prompting the employee to fear for the safety of others.”
SLCPD officers responded and began searching for the man.
“Officers worked with City Creek Center public safety officials to locate the man and to detain him,” SLCPD said in the release. “During their investigation, officers recovered a mostly assembled rifle inside the man’s backpack.
There currently is no evidence to suggest the man ever “fully assembled” the firearm, according to the release, which says the man is a tourist from Australia.
“Officers are in the process of trying to determine how the man became in possession of the firearm.”
Photo: Gephardt Daily/ Patrick Benedict
“As part of this investigation, officers are in contact with the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
“Officers have seized the firearm and are working with detectives to determine the next stage of the investigation.”
SLCPD said that, based on the investigation so far, “there is no indication of any threat to our community.”
Because no charges have been filed, the suspect’s name is not being released at this time, the release states, adding, “The SLCPD would like to thank City Creek Center for their rapid assistance on this case.”
Gephardt Daily will update the story as more information is released.
