Sacramento-area man arrested after Monterey Half Marathon shooting threat
By Ricardo Tovar
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SACRAMENTO (KCRA) — Monterey police said a man was arrested for allegedly making threats to shoot at the Monterey Half Marathon, mistaking it for a protest.
Police said Sean Klinger, 53, of Carmichael, was visiting an acquaintance in Monterey on Sunday when he allegedly told 911 he was trying to sleep and he was going to shoot at protesters on Del Monte Avenue.
Klinger called 911 at around 7:11 a.m., said he was walking down Park Avenue with an AR-style rifle, mentioned the Monterey Bay Half Marathon, and then hung up, according to police.
Police clarified to KSBW 8 that he was mad at the perceived protestors, who he thought were interrupting the half-marathon and his sleep. In reality, there was no protest, and just thousands of people attending the Monterey Half Marathon.
Dispatch tried calling him back, and Klinger did not answer.
Police said the annual Monterey Bay Half Marathon had just started, 10 minutes before, with the start line at Del Monte Avenue and Camino El Estero.
Officers redirected resources to investigate the call while ensuring the race proceeded safely.
Investigators determined the caller was a visitor to the Central Coast. Using license plate readers, they located a suspect vehicle on Park Avenue that was unoccupied at around 7:42 a.m. Police located Klinger at a residence in the area, and he was detained at around 9 a.m.
“Klinger stated he was in Monterey visiting an acquaintance and admitted to making the phone call and threat,” police said in a social media post.
Police said they did locate a handgun in the residence that belonged to Klinger’s associate. It was confiscated as evidence, and police said Klinger’s associate cooperated as evidence.
No AR was located, and police are investigating to see if Klinger had possession of the handgun when he made the alleged threats, per a police social media post.
Klinger was arrested and booked into Monterey County Jail for criminal threats.
Monterey police learned that Klinger owned firearms that were stored in his Carmichael home. MPD officers obtained a Gun Violence Restraining Order and a search warrant for Klinger’s residence in Carmichael.
That same evening, Monterey police traveled to Carmichael and found several firearms, including three illegal assault rifles, per police. He is now also facing charges for possession of the assault rifles in Sacramento County.
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