Man allegedly brandishing gun shuts down northbound I-5 near Marysville

Published 12:23 pm Tuesday, June 30, 2026

EVERETT — A Lake Stevens man, reportedly brandishing a gun while driving, shut down traffic on northbound I-5 for nearly an hour until he was finally subdued by law enforcement Monday near Marysville.

Just before 5 p.m. Monday, witnesses reported the man pointing a firearm as he drove past them, according to the Marysville Police Department spokesperson Robb Lamoureux. Police performed a “high-risk traffic stop” on I-5 near 116th Street Northeast, which closed all northbound lanes.

As multiple officers yelled commands for him to exit the vehicle, Lamoureux said, the driver appeared to be in some type of distress and was not comprehending officer’s instructions.

Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office deputies also responded to the scene, he said. Officers utilized a Pepperball gun and a K-9 unit to take the 39-year-old into custody without incident on suspicion of second-degree assault.

Officers did not find the firearm on his person. As of Tuesday morning, law enforcement has towed the vehicle and obtained a search warrant, Lamoureux said.

As a result of the incident, traffic was backed up for at least 5 miles at one point Monday.

Around 5:40 p.m. Monday, law enforcement had fully cleared the roadway, according to a Washington State Department of Transportation social media post.

Jenna Millikan: 425-339-3035; jenna.millikan@heraldnet.com; X: @JennaMillikan