Jared Goetz, president of North American television distribution for Lionsgate TV, is leaving his position at the company after a September incident in which he brought a gun onto company property.
According to a statement from Goetz’s attorney Bryan Freedman, the incident involved a gun that was properly licensed and was never brought into the office building. However, Lionsgate policy prohibits firearms on company property, including the parking garage where the gun was stored. Friday is Goetz’s last day at the company.
A representative for Lionsgate confirmed Goetz’s exit but declined to comment further.
“This was a one time incident, wherein he never took the gun into the office nor did he remove it from the lock box in the car while he was at work,” Freedman said. “He never showed it to anyone nor did he threaten or let anyone even see it. It was properly and legally secured and there was no one else who had ever seen it- Jared has always been a model employee.”
According to the statement, Goetz was the victim of a home burglary and was attacked while at a stoplight. The gun was in his car and in a lock box because “he had plans to go to the shooting range after work and train with Officer Daryl Scoggins of the West Valley police department.”
Goetz did not show the gun to anyone, but according to Variety, it was seen by a colleague when Goetz drove them to lunch.
“[Goetz] has had tremendous success while at Lionsgate which has led to him being approached with other incredible opportunities,” Freedman said. “He is focusing on those opportunities and wishes that this was not such a difficult and unsafe time for everyone.”
Read the full statement below.
Jared had his home burglarized and during the pandemic was attacked in his car at while at a stop light on Reseda Boulevard. He owned a hand gun that was properly licensed. Consistent with past actions, he had plans to go to the shooting range after work and train with Officer Daryl Scoggins of the West Valley police department. As Lionsgate confirmed, this was a one time incident, wherein he never took the gun into the office nor did he remove it from the lock box in the car while he was at work. He never showed it to anyone nor did he threaten or let anyone even see it. It was properly and legally secured and there was no one else who had ever seen it- Jared has always been a model employee. He has never been involved in anything even close to disciplinary action in more than 25 years of working for companies He is well liked and an honorable person. He never intended in any way to make anyone uncomfortable nor did he do anything illegal- In fact, there are no allegations that he attempted to scare or threaten anyone. While he has reasons for self-protection, he is terribly sorry for this matter and realizes while the gun was properly secured in his vehicle, leaving it in his car in the parking lot was against company policy.
He has had tremendous success while at Lionsgate which has led to him being approached with other incredible opportunities. He is focusing on those opportunities and wishes that this was not such a difficult and unsafe time for everyone.
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