Cops Kept Washington Navy Yard Shooter's Gun After 2004 Arrest in Seattle

Was kept as evidence

SEATTLE (AP) — Police say Washington Navy Yard shooter Aaron Alexis never got his gun back after a 2004 arrest in Seattle.

The Seattle Police Department said Friday that officials held the gun in evidence until they destroyed the weapon in 2007.

The department says Alexis had repeatedly contacted detectives asking to get his firearm back, but detectives did not release it because they had not received paperwork indicating that prosecutors had dropped the case.