OLYMPIA, Wash – The man accused of breaking into the Washington State Capitol Sunday night is a former Gonzaga University baseball player.
WSP arrested Gunnar McLean Schubert Sunday night. His full name and date of birth matches a man who played at Gonzaga in 2017 and 2018.
According to charging documents, WSP got a call to the capitol around 10:20 Sunday night.
A white Subaru was parked on the sidewalk in the flag circle of the Legislative Building.
A man had broken a window in Rep. Liz Berry’s office, leaving a large hammer on the desk.
Inside the building, troopers found several flags knocked down; some of them had been burned.
On the third floor, WSP noticed the busts of George Washington and Martin Luther King, Jr. had been knocked over.
Lt. Gov. Denny Heck said the person then broke a glass door and entered the State Reception Room, setting fire to several objects including the original rug which Heck described as “a priceless treasure.”
WSP arrested Schubert as he exited the building.
He has been booked into the Thurston County Jail on arson, burglary and malicious mischief charges.
“We have the most beautiful Capitol in the country,” Gov. Ferguson wrote in a post on X. “I am grateful for the quick work of our Department of Enterprise Services and the Washington State Patrol to bring this individual safely into custody.”
Records show Schubert is from Auburn, Washington. He played at Pierce College before coming to Gonzaga in 2017. He started every game in his two seasons and was drafted by the Miami Marlins.
He was released by the Marlins the following year.
A Thurston County prosecutor said more charges could be pending. The prosecutor said they’re not aware of a motive in this case.
The prosecutor called the case “strange” and asked for a $5,000 bond and asked the judge to order him to stay away from the capitol building unless he’s escorted.
The judge said he could not take into consideration that the case is “odd” and also recognized that people have strong feelings about what Schubert is accused of doing.
The judge said because it’s not a violent offense, Schubert was not required to post bond and was released on his own recognizance.
The judge did order him to undergo a mental health evaluation.
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