Suspect found in a ‘zombie-like’ state

WASHINGTON — The 20-year-old suspect in the deadly Washington state mall shooting said nothing and appeared “zombie like” when he was arrested by the authorities nearly 24 hours into an intense manhunt, said the authorities.

The Turkish-born man, identified as Arcan Cetin, was suspected of shooting five people dead, including a teenage cancer survivor at the mall located north of Seattle.

Island County Sheriff’s Office Lt Mike Hawley said at a news conference they had received information that Cetin, of Oak Harbor, was in that area and surveillance footage had helped to locate him.

Mr Hawley said Cetin was walking on the footpath and was carrying a satchel with a computer inside. He was in a “zombie-like” state.

Cetin, who immigrated to the United States from Turkey, is a legal permanent resident who has been living in Oak Harbor, added the authorities. He had been arrested once before in the country for assault.

The Seattle Times reported there have been three domestic-violence assault charges against Cetin under the Skagit County court records. The victim was identified as Cetin’s stepfather. Cetin was also reportedly arrested for drunken driving.

The news reported also quoted Mr Marty Baldwin, who said he allowed Cetin, who was homeless at the time, to move in with him and his wife. However, Mr Baldwin kicked him out a few months later after learning the younger man was using and selling drugs. Mr Baldwin said he called 911 on Friday night after recognising the man he knew as “Frankie” on television.

On his Facebook page, Cetin listed his hometown as Adana, Turkey. He graduated last year from Oak Harbor High School and listed himself on Facebook as a bagger at the Whidbey Island Commissary.

Cetin’s Facebook page offered a glimpse of his life. A posting by a friend in 2011 described him as “really annoying”, “funny” and “sometimes really nasty”. Another Facebook posting by a friend in 2012 said of Cetin: “Truth is: You are a very odd character. You were always going on about being Russian and stuff like that but under that you really supported America (or so it seemed to me) and I always thought that was really cool.” Cetin is due in court today. AGENCIES