Man who shot woman at '13 Hours' Benghazi movie carried gun because he feared 'mass shootings'

A Washington man who accidentally shot a female moviegoer at a showing on the Benghazi action film "13 Hours," told police he carries a gun because he fears "mass shootings."

According to the Seattle Times, Dane Gallion, 29, told police he carried the gun with him to the Regal Cinemas 14 at the Landing last Thursday night because he was “concerned about recent mass shootings in public places.”

According to witnesses at the time, Gallion appeared drunk and bolted from the theater after the gun went off, striking the woman in the seat in front of him.

Gallion -- a father of two and a graduate student -- turned himself in later that evening after returning home and having his father call 911.

Police state that Gallion told them he had taken medicine for anxiety in the morning and that he’d had a pizza and a 22-ounce beer before attending the movie, but he gave three different explanations regarding what happened at the theater.

His father, Donald Gallion, told the King County sheriff’s dispatcher that his son had returned home extremely upset, saying the gun has fallen out of his pocket before going off.

However, Gallion told the arresting officer that another moviegoer reached for his crotch and that’s when he accidentally fired the gun, before fleeing the theater because he didn’t want to be mistaken for a mass shooter.

While being booked at the Renton police station, he told another officer that a man had been bothering him, but refused to provide details.

Police say the magazine for the 9mm handgun was found in a theater trash can, and a single spent shell casing and an unfired bullet was discovered under a seat.

Gallion's victim is in stable condition with a gunshot wound to her shoulder.

Bail was set at $25,000 on Saturday, and Gallion was ordered to surrender all firearms to a family member and to stay away from alcohol and controlled substances.

Gallion has a prior arrest from five years ago for being under the influence of a controlled substance.

He is expected back in court on Tuesday.