Cops After UPS Worker Nabbed: 'We Avoided a Tragedy'

Thomas Andrews had allegedly threatened a mass shooting in Sunnyvale, Calif.
By Arden Dier,  Newser Staff
Posted Mar 3, 2020 10:15 AM CST
Cops: After Threat, UPS Worker Found With This
Thomas Andrews.   (Sunnyvale Police Department via AP)

A California UPS worker said he planned to shoot up a company facility before he was arrested and found to have numerous guns and more than 20,000 rounds of ammunition, authorities say. "I definitely think we avoided a tragedy," says Dan Pistor, the police captain in Sunnyvale, near San Jose, per USA Today. Officers with the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety were notified Sunday of text messages Thomas Andrews had sent to his employer, threatening a mass shooting. The 32-year-old, who had four handguns and a rifle registered in his name, was located around 11:15pm before leading officers in a chase down Highway 101, per a Monday release.

The suspect was detained after California Highway Patrol joined the pursuit, according to the release. Authorities say a search of his apartment then turned up five tactical-style rifles, three handguns, a shotgun, more than 20,000 rounds of ammunition, high-capacity magazines, and body armor, per CNN, which notes bags of ammunition were sitting at Andrews' front door. He was booked into Santa Clara County Jail for criminal threats, evading police, driving under the influence, and various weapons violations. Bail is set at $500,000, per NBC News. In a statement, UPS says it is "aware of the situation" and "cooperating fully with authorities as they conduct their investigation." (More mass shootings stories.)

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