A man who called himself “the Messiah” and fired toward officers after barricading himself with a rifle inside a residence near Carlsborg Road was taken into custody by Clallam County Sheriff’s deputies at about 11:30 a.m. Tuesday.
No injuries were reported in the incident.
The man, identified as Justin Cox, 37, of Sequim, has a criminal record that includes seven felonies, 14 gross misdemeanors and three misdemeanors, according to Clallam County Sheriff’s Office Chief Criminal Deputy Amy Bundy.
Bundy said a call was received at 8:04 a.m. about an individual banging on business windows and behaving erratically. Sheriff Brian King told the Peninsula Daily News that the man stated he was armed and had ammunition.
The man left the business area and went to a residence in the 200 block of Village Lane.
Bundy told the Sequim Gazette that records did not indicate that Cox resided at the residence but it was not immediately clear whether he had entered the home unlawfully. She said officers knocked on the door and could hear Cox speaking erratically and claiming to be “the Messiah.” When they knocked on the door, it was answered by the resident, who said that everything was okay and that they could calm Cox.
The officers could see Cox in the background and they saw him pick up a rifle, Bundy said. But when the resident stepped between the officers and Cox, the officers retreated with the intention of enlisting additional resources.
It is unlawful for a felon to be in possession of a firearm.
A press release later issued by the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office said that the weapon was an AK-47 style rifle and that Cox threatened to shoot law enforcement from inside the residence.
According to Bundy, the Peninsula Crisis Response Team was activated and maintained a perimeter around the residence. Nearby residents were alerted to either leave their homes or shelter in place and the public was alerted to the situation through the Everbridge mass notification system.
Crisis negotiators, less lethal operators, and a K-9 unit were called to the scene, and there were two armored vehicles — one from the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office and one from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. Two drones were also put into use.
Eventually, the resident exited the home and told officers that there was no one else inside. Negotiations were attempted, but when Cox began firing rounds, striking a nearby home and one of the armored vehicles, chemical munitions were deployed. According to the press release, Cox fired an estimated 25-30 bullets toward law enforcement.
After running out the back door of the house and attempting to flee on foot, Cox was arrested on seven counts of Assault First Degree Against Law Enforcement, Malicious Michief First Degree, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, and Reckless Endangerment.
Cox was examined by medics on site and was uninjured, according to Bundy.
Bundy said the Port Angeles Police Department, the Sequim Police Department and Fire District 3 also provided assistance during the incident. She said 20 vehicles and at least 15 members of law enforcement were on the scene.
“It ended 100% as well as it could have ended,” she said of the incident.
Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen/ Multiple agencies responded to the Tuesday morning incident, including the Port Angeles and Sequim Police Departments, Clallam and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Offices and Fire District 3.
Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen/ Clallam County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested Justin Cox, 37, at about 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, ending a situation that began with an 8:04 a.m. call from a local business about a man behaving erratically and claiming to be armed.
