Washington man’s Facebook Marketplace offer to trade an illegal submachine gun for an ATV led to his swift arrest by authorities, highlighting a concerning intersection of social media and illegal weapons trafficking.
Key Takeaways
- Jacob Shawn Dixon attempted to trade an illegal submachine gun, suppressor, and motorcycle for an ATV on Facebook Marketplace
- The seller immediately reported the illegal weapons offer to Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office
- Dixon, who has a history of weapons offenses, admitted the firearm’s illegality in Washington state
- Authorities arrested Dixon during a sting operation involving Crime Reduction Team detectives and Lower Columbia SWAT
- Dixon now faces multiple charges including unlawful firearms possession, dangerous weapons violations, and driving with a suspended license
Illegal Weapons Trade Proposed on Social Media Platform
Facebook Marketplace, typically a venue for selling furniture, electronics, and vehicles, became the unlikely setting for an attempted illegal weapons transaction in Cowlitz County, Washington. When a local resident posted an ATV for sale, he received an unexpected and disturbing counteroffer from Jacob Shawn Dixon. Instead of offering cash, Dixon proposed trading a submachine gun, a suppressor, and a motorcycle for the all-terrain vehicle. This brazen attempt to conduct an illegal firearms transaction through a mainstream social media platform immediately raised alarms for the seller Stated Jacob Shawn Dixon.
Recognizing the serious nature of the proposal, the ATV seller promptly contacted the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office to report the illegal offer. Investigators quickly identified Dixon as the suspect, discovering he already had a concerning history of weapons offenses and driving with a suspended license. This background information heightened authorities’ concerns about the danger Dixon potentially posed to the community and the urgency of addressing this illegal weapons transaction before it could be completed or offered to someone else.
Suspect Admitted Illegality While Attempting to Complete Trade
During communications with the seller, Dixon demonstrated a clear awareness that his actions violated Washington state law. In messages exchanged with the potential buyer, Dixon explicitly acknowledged the gun’s illegal status in Washington and instructed the seller to maintain secrecy about their transaction. To prove the functionality of the weapon, Dixon even sent a video demonstrating the submachine gun in action, providing law enforcement with valuable evidence of both the weapon’s existence and Dixon’s possession of it.
The suspect’s cavalier attitude toward breaking firearms laws, combined with his attempt to circumvent traditional sales channels by bartering illegal weapons instead of using monetary transactions, demonstrated a deliberate effort to evade detection. Dixon’s instruction to keep the deal secret further confirms he understood the criminal nature of his actions but proceeded regardless, showing a complete disregard for public safety and firearms regulations designed to keep dangerous weapons out of circulation.
Coordinated Law Enforcement Response Leads to Arrest
Upon receiving the report, Cowlitz County authorities assembled a coordinated response to apprehend Dixon safely. The department’s Crime Reduction Team (CRT) detectives collaborated with the Lower Columbia SWAT team to orchestrate a controlled meeting with the suspect under the guise of completing the ATV transaction. This tactical approach allowed law enforcement to maintain the element of surprise while minimizing risk to the public during the arrest of an individual attempting to traffic in illegal firearms According to the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office.
The operation was executed successfully, resulting in Dixon’s arrest without incident. Following his apprehension, Dixon now faces multiple serious charges including unlawful firearms possession, first-degree unlawful possession of a firearm, dangerous weapons violations, assault weapons charges, and driving with a suspended license. The case serves as a stark reminder of how social media platforms can be exploited for illegal activities and the importance of vigilant citizens reporting suspicious offers to law enforcement.
