Ex-Marlins Draft Pick Broke Into WA State Capitol, Burned Flag and ‘Priceless Treasure’: Authorities
A former Miami Marlins draft pick allegedly broke into the Washington state Capitol in Olympia this week and caused thousands of dollars in damage.
Gunnar Schubert, 29, allegedly entered the state Capitol through a window and caused damage throughout the building, including partially burning a flag.
Authorities say there did not appear to be a political motive for the damage, but Schubert, who played for Gonzaga Baseball and then in the Marlins’ minor league system, may have been suffering from a mental health crisis.
“It did not seem to be at all politically motivated. It appears to have been a person experiencing a mental health challenge,” Chris Loftis, a spokesman for the Washington State Patrol, said about the incident.
Washington Lieutenant Governor Denny Heck described some of the damage in a statement:
On Sunday evening, after 10 pm, an individual broke a window and entered the State Capitol Building. He
proceeded in a fairly short period of time to damage several items in the building. He tipped over both iconic
busts on the 3rd floor. All flags by the fire pots on the east side of the rotunda were thrown over and one was
burned. He broke a glass door to enter the State Reception Room, where he also set fire to several objects,
including the original rug, which is a priceless treasure.
Heck said authorities arrested Schubert after his alleged “rapid fire damage spree” as he was leaving the building.
Footage from inside shows the suspect knocking over various items as he wanders the hallways. At one point, he started a fire in the state reception room, shattering a glass door to get in. He also toppled statues of George Washington and Martin Luther King Jr.
All told, the “damage spree” lasted about 10 minutes, according to authorities.
He has been booked and charged with first-degree burglary, first-degree arson, and first-degree malicious mischief. The original incident occurred on Oct. 5.
Watch above via KREM.
