SPRINGFIELD, KY. (THECOUNT) — Springfield, Kentucky, police masterfully averted what was likely a mass shooting just moments away from occurring in Springfield, Kentucky, on Monday.
Matthew Smith, 37, was arrested Monday at Lb Manufacturing, on Industry Drive, in Springfield, KY, Monday. Police said Smith had several guns in his vehicle, including one that appeared to be a fully automatic weapon.
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Officers responded to the business on reports of a suspicious vehicle and trespassing complaint around 4 p.m. Monday.
Upon arrival, Smith was found in possession of several handguns that were fully loaded with a round in the chamber. Police also found modified fully automatic Colt AR-15 A-2 with a 40-round magazine in the front passenger seat and a .308 rifle was under that firearm, according to the arrest report.
Police said Smith had several fully loaded magazines for each semi-automatic gun.
The first officer at the scene said he approached Smith and asked him his name, according to an arrest report. Smith “began making furtive movements in the vehicle” and asked the officer for his badge number, the report stated. The officer asked Smith again for his name and for him to step out of the vehicle, to which Smith refused. The officer opened the driver’s door and spotted a Glock handgun in Smith’s hand, according to the arrest report. As Smith raised the gun toward the officer, the officer grabbed the gun with his left hand and passed it off to another officer. The officer took Smith to the ground at that point, as Smith tried to grab something from his waistband. The two officers gained control of Smith and a Springfield XD handgun was found tucked in his front waistband. Smith then was handcuffed and another Glock was found in a holster on his ankle, according to the arrest report. source
While clearing the AR-15, police realized that it had been modified to be fully automatic because the safety was not functioning properly and the trigger reset itself when primed, according to the arrest report.
Smith claimed that he was at the business seeking an employee he’d dropped off earlier in the day.
Smith told officers he worried that employee was being “trafficked.”
Smith told the interviewing officer he “brought what he needed to get the job done,” police said.
Smith is charged with two counts of first-degree wanton endangerment of a police officer, two counts of resisting arrest, one count of attempted murder and one count of third-degree criminal trespassing.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is also investigating the case.
Anyone with possible information on the case should contact police at 911.