KEY POINTS

  • A search warrant was issued for the accused after officials received a report that the man had sent threatening text messages 
  • Officers discovered over 20,000 rounds of ammunition, body armor, a shotgun, high capacity magazines, five tactical rifles, three handguns and tactical backpacks with ammunition while searching his apartment
  • “I definitely think we avoided a tragedy,” said Sunnyvale police Capt. Dan Pistor

Thousands of rounds of ammunition, body armor, high capacity magazines, and several other weapons were recovered by authorities on Monday while searching a UPS (United Parcel Service) Employee’s residence, a day after he was arrested for threatening a mass shooting at the UPS facility in Sunnyvale near San Jose, California.

An extensive search warrant was issued for the accused, identified as 32-year-old Thomas Andrews, after officials received a report that the man had sent threatening text messages to his employer. The accused was taken into custody by Sunnyvale DPS patrol officers after a vehicle pursuit at Highway 101, near Bailey Road, on Sunday. California Highway Patrol (CHP) had also joined the pursuit.

He was arrested on suspicion of evading police, several weapons violations, and charges of driving under the influence. The officers had also discovered that he was a registered owner of four handguns and a rifle.

On Monday, officers discovered over 20,000 rounds of ammunition, body armor, a shotgun, high capacity magazines, five tactical rifles, three handguns and tactical backpacks with ammunition while searching his apartment. The tactical backpacks containing ammunition were reportedly found near the apartment’s front door.

According to jail records, Andrews was being held at the Santa Clara County Jail for a $500,000 bail. It wasn’t clear if he had a lawyer at the time.

Sunnyvale police Capt. Dan Pistor told the Associated Press that he had alluded to a mass shooting in his text messages.

“I definitely think we avoided a tragedy,” he said.

A spokesman from UPS said the company was cooperating with the authorities and aware of the situation. However, he refused to comment further on the matter.

US Military Guns Fedexed To Facility In Canada
Representational image of an assault rifle. Getty Images/Mohd Rasfan