Man Waves “Gun,” Threatens to Kill Three Workers Painting Building in Downtown Pasadena

A man lifted shirt shirt to reveal a handgun in his waistband and made death threats against a three-man painting crew at work early in the morning in downtown Pasadena. He was arrested, and the painters were not injured.

Pasadena Police Lt. John Luna said the weapon turned out to be an airsoft gun, which is similar to a paintball gun.

The incident began at about 7 a.m. Tuesday as the painters worked on a building near the corner of Colorado Boulevard and Oak Knoll Avenue, Luna said.

For unknown reasons the suspect approached the workers —a 31-year old man who resides in Arcadia, a 62-year-old man from La Puente and a Duarte man whose age was not known by Luna — and allegedly made the criminal threats.

The suspect waved the gun in his hand and then left, heading west along Colorado Boulevard, Luna said.

Responding officers located the suspect on Oakland Avenue and arrested him without further incident, Luna said. He identified the man as Johnny McGraw, 66, of Altadena.

McGraw was arrested on suspicion of making criminal threats and booked into the city jail.