It started when a viral TikTok video circulated claiming that the homeless population of Olympia is stockpiling bats, knives, and guns to prepare for a “shootout” with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) due to an impending raid. This has caused quite an uproar on the web but currently lacks any credible evidence that there is an organized armed battle coming.
The video, posted by TikTok user @bob.vertucci in mid-August 2025, shows the creator standing near the Olympia Transit Center while narrating:
“What’s up, TikTok? Looks like I was talking with the homeless people out here. They’re getting ready tonight, man… They got baseball bats, knives. Some of them are armed, actually. One dude I was talking with said if ICE comes in here, he’s already gonna shoot. He don’t care. He has nothing to lose.”
The video quickly spread across TikTok and X, with reposts amplifying its claims. One widely shared caption described the situation as “people prepared to execute ICE” and warned, “it’s gonna be a shootout.”
However, a review of the original clip shows no explicit mention of “executing ICE agents.” Those words appear in re-upload captions, not in verifiable primary-source audio.
Despite the alarming language online, Olympia city officials and the Olympia Police Department have not issued any warnings about potential attacks or armed plots.
Councilmember Clark Gilman, who previously addressed increased ICE activity in the area, told reporters earlier this summer that the city remains committed to Washington’s “Keep Washington Working Act”, which limits local law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
Similarly, Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders has stated that his office does not coordinate directly with ICE.
“Our priority is public safety and community trust. We don’t endorse violence of any kind.”
Sanders said in July.
The federal government, meanwhile, has taken threats against ICE officers seriously amid rising hostility nationwide.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in March 2025 that online calls for violence against federal agents are “serious federal crimes.”
“We monitor these claims closely. Any incitement to harm federal officers will be investigated and prosecuted.”
Noem said.
ICE has not publicly commented on the Olympia video but reported an 830% increase in assaults on ICE officers nationwide between January and July 2025, fueling fears of growing confrontation.
Local immigrant-rights advocates expressed concern about this dynamic, warning that sensational claims could worsen tensions without improving safety.
“People are scared enough already. Exaggerated rumors put both immigrants and officers at risk.”
Said Maria Gonzalez, director of the Olympia Immigrant Rights Coalition.
The Olympia claims come amid rising national tensions over immigration enforcement. Washington, one of the sanctuary states under the 2019 Keep Washington Working Act, noticed an added level of tension when the Biden administration escalated the activities of ICE in 2025, bringing protests to Seattle and Spokane cities. An Ipsos survey indicates most Americans favor tougher deportation policies yet worry about government overreach and civil liberties. In Olympia, ICE activity has been limited, but three reported enforcement actions in June have heightened local anxieties.
Regarding the viral TikTok video, it shows a user claiming people at the Olympia Transit Center are “getting ready” and “armed” ahead of possible ICE raids. However, the more extreme claims that locals are “prepared to execute ICE” or that a “shootout” is imminent come from captions on reposted clips, not the original footage. Olympia police, city officials, and ICE have issued no alerts confirming any organized threats, and as of August 25, 2025, no independent fact-check has verified or debunked these claims.
A tweet from X.
For now, the Olympia “shootout” claims remain unverified. While tensions over immigration enforcement are undeniably high, there is no confirmed evidence that armed groups in Olympia are preparing to attack ICE.
Authorities are urging caution in sharing unconfirmed claims, especially amid a volatile political climate. As Secretary Noem warned, threats against federal agents are prosecuted but exaggerated rumors can also inflame fear and deepen divisions.
“We all have a responsibility to pause before amplifying claims that could endanger lives. Facts matter more than clicks.”
Said Gonzalez.
