News Summary

East Providence firefighter Hoan Su has been charged with felony gun offenses after allegedly possessing illegal high-capacity firearm magazines and threatening a colleague. Authorities intervened with a search warrant under the state’s ‘Red Flag’ law, leading to the discovery of multiple firearms in Su’s home. Su has been released on personal recognizance, with conditions including mental health monitoring. This incident raises concerns about firearm possession among public service members.

East Providence Firefighter Faces Felony Gun Charges After Threatening Colleague

East Providence firefighter Hoan Su, 38, is facing felony gun charges for allegedly possessing illegal high-capacity firearm magazines. Su was arraigned on July 2 on eight counts related to the unlawful possession of these magazines following a concerning incident where he threatened to “shoot” a colleague.

The East Providence police notified authorities in Glocester about the threats made by Su on June 30, prompting a law enforcement response that involved securing a search warrant for his residence under the state’s “Red Flag” law. This law allows for the temporary removal of firearms from individuals deemed a threat to themselves or others.

Before the authorities conducted the search at Su’s home, he was admitted to Butler Hospital for mental health concerns. Following his hospitalization, police executed a search of his residence where they discovered a range of firearms and high-capacity magazines, which included:

• Two shotguns
• One AR rifle
• Eight high-capacity magazines, comprising:
• Three loaded AR-style high-capacity magazines
• Two unloaded .40 caliber high-capacity magazines
• Three additional unloaded AR-style magazines found in an upstairs bedroom

Although Su was found in possession of multiple firearms, he has only been charged with illegal possession of high-capacity magazines. His next court appearance is a pre-arraignment conference scheduled for October.

After his arraignment, Su was released on $10,000 personal recognizance and is required to undergo pretrial mental health monitoring as part of the conditions of his release. The city of East Providence has stated that it cannot comment on Su’s employment status as it is regarded as a “personnel matter.” Su became a firefighter in East Providence in early 2021.

This incident raises significant concerns regarding firearm possession and the mental health of individuals in positions of public trust, such as firefighters. The Red Flag law, invoked in this case, highlights the importance of addressing potential threats before they escalate into violence.

Efforts to obtain a comment from Su regarding the charges have not elicited a response. The situation continues to develop as the legal process unfolds and the community awaits further updates.

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Additional Resources

• WPRI: East Providence Firefighter Accused of Threatening Coworker
• Wikipedia: Red Flag Law
• Turnto10: East Providence Firefighter Faces Charges for Threat
• Google Search: Firearm Possession and Mental Health
• MSN: East Providence Firefighter Faces Gun Charges
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Gun Control