Who is Arcan Cetin, suspect in deadly Washington state mall shooting?

BURLINGTON, Wash. — The man suspected of fatally shooting five people at a mall in Washington state is in police custody, authorities said Saturday.

Arcan Cetin, 20, of Oak Harbor, was found and taken into custody shortly before 7 p.m. PDT Saturday in connection with the deadly shooting at Cascade Mall in Burlington on Friday night, police said.

Here's what we know so far:

1. Authorities say the motive for the shooting, which left four females and one male dead, is unknown. At a news conference Saturday night, investigators said they still need to interview the suspect and analyze his statements before determining the motive.

Investigators have not found a connection between the suspect and victims, authorities said.

​2. Investigators said Cetin emigrated from Turkey but is a legal, permanent resident of the United States.

Law enforcement staged a massive search over more than 20 hours for the suspect, initially described by witnesses as a young Hispanic male wearing black. The description, including that he appeared Hispanic, was based on statements from witnesses, said Given Kutz, a spokesman for the Skagit County Emergency Operations Center.

3. Domestic violence incidents, but no convictions. In October 2014, Cetin was added as a defendant in a domestic violence-related case; however, he was ultimately not convicted. At the time a judge was told Cetin was just over 18 and has no place to go. Also that month, Cetin was told not to possess firearms. The court was told it was not clear where Cetin would be staying.

A formal no-contact order was entered for each parent, according to court records.

Court records also show his dad called – and that call was referred to the prosecutor’s office – saying Cetin’s uncle was not willing to let him stay at his residence in Sumer. There was a request for the no-contact order to be lifted.

The case judge did not lift the order, but set a hearing date for later in the year. Court records show Cetin was staying in room 17 of a local motel.

In November 2014 – the same month Cetin pleaded not guilty – his address was updated to Coupeville.

On Dec. 2, 2014, court records show Cetin’s parents were present for a hearing to lift the no-contact requirement.

A prosecutor asked about firearms, and Cetin’s mother said those were removed, according to court records.

A day later at a separate hearing, a judge granted a motion to cancel the no-contact order.

As the case continued in 2015, additional counseling was recommended, court records show. They also show that case was tracked with a separate Island County case involving another alleged victim.

As part of that misdemeanor case, Cetin was ordered to undergo a mental health evaluation in August 2015. The evaluation was completed as of March 2016, according to court records.

There also were questions in the court file about cannabis use. But last April a judge asked how that related to his mental health evaluation, saying it was not a mental health issue.

In May, a judge approved deferred prosecution in that assault case – meaning Cetin was not convicted – and he was ordered not to have alcohol or drugs as part of the deferment.

As of Aug. 25, 2016, Cetin was in compliance with weekly sessions for mental health counseling. He complied with the alcohol assessment, according to court records, and he had a deferred prosecution review for the case scheduled for 2018.

4. Cetin is being held at the Skagit County Jail. He is expected to appear in Skagit County District Court on Monday.

– The Cox Media Group National Content Desk contributed to this report.

Cox Media Group