A file photo taken in recent months shows the McDonald’s golden arches from State Route 20 near the restaurant’s Burlington location, just south of the new Chick-fil-A. The image was obtained by Bellingham Metro News and taken by Fernando Gonzalez.
BURLINGTON, Wash. — Burlington police say two separate reports involving alleged firearms prompted a large multi-agency response Wednesday evening, including K-9 teams and a drone, but investigators currently believe the incidents were unrelated and there is no ongoing threat to the public.
The first incident began at approximately 5:25 p.m. when Burlington officers were dispatched to the McDonald’s in the 800 block of Nevitt Road after receiving a report that a male had allegedly threatened another male with a gun.
According to the Burlington Police Department, no injuries were reported. The person alleged to have been armed left the area on foot before officers could locate him.
As the search expanded, officers from the Sedro-Woolley and Anacortes police departments joined Burlington police, along with deputies from the Skagit County Sheriff’s Office. K-9 teams and a drone were also used as law enforcement searched the surrounding area.
One juvenile male who was involved in the incident was detained during the response, police said. The male who was alleged to have had the firearm was not located.
While officers were still searching for those involved in the first call, police received a second report at approximately 6:45 p.m. near the Haggen parking lot off Burlington Boulevard.
In that incident, an employee reported seeing a male wearing a green sweatshirt who allegedly pointed or displayed a rifle in their direction. Because officers were already concentrated in the area, police quickly detained a person who matched the initial description.
Investigators later determined that person was not involved, according to Burlington police. Officers continued searching but did not locate anyone else matching the description provided by the employee.
Police said the employee was not directly threatened, but reported that the person allegedly had a rifle and displayed it in their direction.
Authorities said the description provided in the second incident did not match the description of the person sought in connection with the earlier McDonald’s incident. Based on the information gathered Wednesday evening, investigators believe the two calls were unrelated.
The large police presence prompted attention across Burlington as officers from several agencies searched areas near McDonald’s, Haggen and surrounding roads.
Bellingham Metro News reported on the developing response Wednesday evening as multiple law enforcement agencies moved through the area and units were heard coordinating the search.
Burlington police later announced that the area was clear and said officers do not currently believe either incident presents an ongoing danger to the public.
Both cases remain under investigation.
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