Bystanders jumped a California man who fired multiple shots from a semi-automatic weapon into the air and then pointed it at people on the ground, holding him down until police arrived.
The Marysville Police Department said Ray Lavern Kirk Jr., 26, was seen brandishing his gun in the parking lot of a gas station two miles away in Yuba City before the incident that cost him his freedom, KCRA reported.
Police said they were called about an active shooter in a shopping center parking lot in Marysville at about 11:30 p.m. When they arrived, they found a group of people holding Kirk on the ground.
Witnesses told officers that Kirk showed up in the parking lot and fired a round into the air, then fired four or five more rounds after people exited a restaurant in the shopping center.
At that point, police said, he pointed the weapon at five or six people in front of the restaurant and was immediately tackled by a bystander. More people joined in, disarming the gunman and holding him down until police arrived.
Yuba City officers also arrived on the scene and told their Marysville counterparts about the earlier incident at the gas station.
Kirk was booked into the Yuba County jail on attempted homicide charges and may face additional charges as the investigation continues.
It’s not known why Kirk was in a mood.
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[Featured image: Ray Lavern Kirk Jr/Marysville Police Department]
