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More than 50 items seized from backpack of man arrested with gun at movie theater

BEAVER COUNTY, Pa. — A Georgia man was arrested at a movie theater in Beaver County over the weekend because he had a stolen gun, police said.

According to a criminal complaint obtained by Channel 11 News, William Gossett, 21, of Covington, Georgia, was carrying a loaded semi-automatic handgun and a box of ammunition in a backpack Saturday night as he walked around the Cinemark theater in Center Township. %

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A search warrant revealed that 52 items were seized from Gossett’s bag. In addition to the gun and ammo, police found a respirator, two cans of black spray paint, gloves, black tape, electric cords, two first aid kits and a handwritten note.

Police would not say what the note said.

Gossett was wearing long-sleeved army fatigues despite temperatures in the 90s, police said.

According to the criminal complaint, Gossett walked into a bathroom after he saw police. He gave officers permission to search the bag.

Police said Gossett initially gave them a different name, and his real identity was discovered after he was taken to jail.

“We don't know why he was here, and he gave us a fake name and fake birthday, so something was up,” Center Township Police Chief Barry Kramer said.

Police paperwork said that employees told authorities that Gossett had been hanging around the theater for two hours. Gossett told police that he walked to the theater from Georgia and claimed to have found the gun in the street.

Channel 11’s Amy Marcinkiewicz spoke to Gossett’s father, Kyle, who said he was glad police stopped his son.

“The question is too, what if that officer hadn't of been there? What if? That's the big question," Kyle Gossett said.

Gossett told police that he was at the theater to see “The Purge” movie.

Joyce Gilbert went to see the movie Saturday night and was sitting in the first row upon entering the theater. She believes that if Gossett hadn’t been arrested she would not be alive.

“I know I would've been the first one shot. I'm just so glad and happy that I'm alive and able to talk to you,” Gilbert told Marcinkiewicz.

Police said the gun was stolen from Ohio.

Gossett was convicted of two felonies in Georgia and is not licensed to carry a firearm.

"My heart dropped. I'm thinking what that movie is about and him being in a theater with a gun. You don't know what's possible,” said Kyle Gossett.

Gossett’s father told Channel 11 News that he hadn’t spoken to his son since February, that he didn’t know why he was in Pennsylvania and that Gossett had violated probation in Georgia. He also said William was an avid gamer.

"He lives in a gaming world. Playing those games, that's his thing," said Kyle Gossett.

Movie goers said they were glad police spotted the suspect.

“It's very scary, you know? This is a leisure activity. (To) hear something like that happened, (it’s) not something you want to hear, especially with the nightclub stuff happening in Florida, and now you hear it's in Beaver County,” David Cutich said.

The Center Township police chief shared praise for his officers on the department's Facebook page.

Kyle Gossett said that William did not grow up around violence or weapons.

“He wasn't brought up that way. He wasn't brought up around guns and violence," he said.

I would like to thank our police department and the officers involved in the recent arrest at the movie theater. I also...

Posted by Center Twp. Police Dept. on Monday, July 25, 2016