UPDATE: 5:27 a.m., 1/17/13
We just got this statement from the Pierce County Prosecutor's Office:
Today Pierce County Prosecutor Mark Lindquist charged Douglas McRae, 59, with Assault in the First Degree and Assault in the Second Degree for firing multiple shots at cars near his Gig Harbor home earlier this week. The defendant was arraigned today and bail was set at $200,000.
“This case is concerning not just because of the firearms, but because of the strange behavior of the defendant,” said Prosecutor Mark Lindquist.
Around 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday, January 15, two women were locking the gates of an elementary school where they work when they heard three gunshots close by. The women got in their cars and were driving home when they both saw a man, later identified as the defendant, standing in the middle of the road with a rifle. The first woman accelerated and drove around the defendant as he cocked the rifle. As the second victim came upon the defendant, he fired two shots, one that hit her front passenger tire. The victims proceeded to a gas station, where they called police.
Officers responded to the area and arrested the defendant outside of his home. The defendant had two loaded guns, a mini 14 rifle and Glock handgun, in his possession. The defendant claimed he had arrived home to find a man and a woman leaving his house, carrying his guns, and he fired warning shots. Later, the defendant said a naked woman came to his door and, because of the cold, he had no choice but to let her in. He said he believed she had something to do with the robbery.
Officers executed a search warrant on the defendant’s house and found large amounts of ammunition and multiple weapons, which were seized. There were no obvious signs of a break in or burglary. No naked woman was found.
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ORIGINAL POST
A 59-year-old Gig Harbor man is in police custoday after shooting at two school custodians and assault rifles have been seized from his property.
The Tacoma News Tribune reports that the man fired on the two custodians while they were locking up Goodman Middle School around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday night. A bullet hit a car's tire and the man was taken into custody by Pierce County Sheriff's Deputies at gunpoint.
It is not clear why the man fired. Investigators found several high-powered rifles and lots of ammunition on his property, which is near the school.
"We found six assault-style rifles in the house, including SKS rifles and AR 15 and many 30 round magazines loaded. His property is next to Goodman Middle School. His house has bullet holes in it," said Pierce County Sheriff's spokeman Ed Troyer. "We don't know why he's not talking, we are exploring drugs, alcohol and/or mental health issues."
Patch will update this story as more information becomes available.
