With an American flag and gun in hand, a could-be suicidal masked man in fatigues and body armor on the northbound 101 Freeway in Santa Barbara, first spotted around 7:15 a.m., forced officials to shut down the artery in both directions at the La Cumbre overpass. SWAT is on scene and are expected to attempt negotiations as traffic snarls the morning commute.
UPDATE:"The reason appears to be anti-war, but I don't know the specifics," Sgt. Lorenzo Duarte. Duarte said of the masked gunman that stopped 101 Freeway traffic for hours starting this morning around 7:10 a.m.
SWAT members tried to communicate with the man with a bullhorn and after three hours, he put his handgun down, but police did not immediate move in, according the Assocated Press. Finally, the man was talked down. No shots or injuries have been reported.
UPDATE #2: Police say the gunman is 28-year-old Eddie Vantassel, an Iraqi War Veteran.
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What the heck is that picture? Accounts say he has a handgun, not an assault rifle! Sensationalize much?
SWAT has assualt rifles, and the story mentions that SWAT is out and about trying to get this guy. So, I would say the picture is highly appropriate, Zach. - this coming from a guy who normally keeps you accountable for those pictures! :)
As long as we are splitting hairs here, the picture is a little fuzzy, but it looks like an AK-47 to me. That is not a gun the SWAT team would be using.
America, fuck yeah!
Hey Guys, I wish we had better resources, but sometimes images we can use relating to a breaking news incident are hard to come by. I was looking for creative common images with a ski mask and gun and that one seemed fuzzy and obscure enough for a "stock" type photo. I didn't intend to be sensationalist, just trying find a photo to accompany the brief. If AP releases any, I'll put them up.
I think most people realize that. Was adding my 2 cents more out of morning boredom at the time.