GCSO busy with gun-related incidents at entertainment venues

GRANT COUNTY — The Grant County Sheriff’s Office released two press releases Saturday detailing two situations that involved guns at two popular locations in Grant County this week; the Gorge and the Grant County Fair. GCSO highlighted the diligence of citizens for their part in preventing a possible tragedy.

The first release from GCSO said Grant County deputies believed they intercepted a possible mass shooting at the Gorge Amphitheater Friday night.

“(The Public is) the extra eyes and ears out at the concert,” said GCSPublic Information Officer Kyle Foreman. “We're grateful that they could bring those things to our attention.”

The release said that 30-year-old Ephrata resident Jonathan R. Moody was seen inhaling an unknown substance or gas from a balloon and then loading two 9mm pistols from the trunk of his car. Moody concealed one pistol in the rear of his waistband and the other in an outside-the-waistband holster. He was also seen approaching concertgoers, asking what time the concert ended and where people would be exiting the venue.

Citizens and security notified GCSO of their observations and concern around 9 p.m.

Foreman stated that Moody does have a conceal carry permit but was on the Gorge property when doing so, where there is a no weapons policy.

Moody was detained and disarmed by LiveNation security outside of the venue gates. The release stated that after investigating, deputies arrested Moody on suspicion of one count of possession of a dangerous weapon and one count of unlawful carrying or handling of a weapon and was lodged in the Grant County Jail.

Foreman noted that Moody carrying the firearms was not the only reason for his arrest, he explained it was Moody’s suspicious behavior paired with the weapons that led deputies to detain and arrest him.

“If you're simply a person legally carrying a firearm, clearly there's no problem,” said Foreman.

Moody did not make any statements to deputies, according to the release.

A second incident involving a weapon also occurred Friday, but at the Grant County Fair.

The second release stated that incidents of youth violence earlier this week and Friday evening led to several fights and the arrest of a 15-year-old boy. The juvenile that was arrested had a handgun in his possession.

No shots were fired and nobody accepted medical care at either incident Friday night.

Foreman said extra law enforcement officers from across Grant County would be on hand Saturday evening to prevent further incidents, from those involved in the incidents earlier in the week or for those looking for an opportunity.

The extra law enforcement included members of GCSO, Moses Lake Police Department, Soap Lake Police Department and Quincy Police Department.

A press release Sunday morning by GCSO said there was one group of youth removed from the fairgrounds early in the evening before a possible conflict Saturday night.

Foreman said that the sheriff’s office continues to encourage residents to report suspicious behavior in order to prevent crimes, such as they did over the weekend.

“I think the public expects that there is a high level of security at any event, any public events, whether it's the Grant County Fair or a concert or any other event where there's a large amount of people,” said Foreman. “So we try to make that happen.”

Rebecca Pettingill may be reached at rpettingill@columbiabasinherald.com. Find out more about what’s going on in the Columbia Basin by listening to the Studio Basin podcast, available on Spotify and at https://www.buzzsprout.com/2017652.

Editor's Note: This story has been updated to add a photo and additional details as the weekend progressed.