A man stood in the parking lot of a shopping mall in Southern California on Saturday and fired 50 shots into the air.
Police didn’t say why, but his actions prompted many stores in the open-air Fashion Island mall in Newport Beach to lock their doors.
No one was hurt by the bullets raining down, but one person suffered minor injuries while trying to flee the area, police said.
Newport Beach Police quickly took the man, 42-year-old Marcos Sarinana Gurrola, into custody, but not before calling in the bomb squad when the man said he had more ammunition in the trunk of his car.
Suspect Arrested After Firing Weapon in Parking Lot nixle.us/84KMJ
— Newport Beach Police (@NewportBeachPD) December 16, 2012
The incident came a day after a mass shooting at an elementary school in Connecticut, and last week’s fatal shooting at a mall in Oregon.
Patrick Wyrick was returning to his car when he heard the shots and, from behind the safety of his car, began capturing the scene with camera.
“I wasn't sure they were real or not. Then a heard another set of shots and then another,” he said in a video he posted on YouTube.
“My wife and daughter were at an ice cream shop in the mall when the shooting happened. They ended up running and screaming with everyone toward the opposite side of the mall.”
Other shoppers began tweeting:
There is a shooting at fashion island and I'm trapped in a department store. This is scary
— Emily Altieri (@e_altieri) December 16, 2012
omg omg omg omg there's a shooting at fashion island. can't go anywhere on lockdown
— Zoë Amelia Klopfer (@zoeboo2) December 16, 2012
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Why does anyone, besides the military and law enforcement, need an automatic weapon? To hunt? Why? How can these be legal? What sane argument can any NRA purist give me as to why anyone would NEED one?
you're 100% right of course, but all these sensible statements do is provoke more hysteria from gun-owners. I don't know what to do. It's like America has lost all its common sense.
I agree!
You realize the shooter wasn't shooting an automatic weapon right?
You realize that Joe Citizen can't walk into a gun store and buy an automatic weapon right?
So how many rghts are you willing to give up to be 'safe'?
No civilian can legally own an automatic weapon.
Period.
None.
On top of that, California has some of the most restrictive gun control laws in the nation.
(Tell that to the criminals and gang members)
Seems that "Smarter Than Ewe" is dumber than a box of rocks. The weapon that was used was a SEMI-automatic.
Typical of a lib gun grabber, has absolutely NO idea as to the type of weapons that they want confiscated.
Scott
In the words of the late George Carlin: "Why do they call it common sense, when it's so rare?"
No one needs them. The NRA has convinced weak minded Americans that banning guns will be the end of the world. Gun nuts couldn't care less about ANY of their rights being trampled except the right to be able to quickly shoot a bunch of school children with as many weapons as you can carry.
Where does it say he was using an automatic weapon? Where does it even say what type of weapon he was using? Everyone is right, automatic weapons are illegal to own. Only criminals have automatic weapons. If this man walked into the mall with a bomb, what would the gun ban advocates have to blame then?
People like Scott seem to find gun knowledge and veiled shots at liberals more important than human life....awesome....glad we've got people like that running all over this country.
The debate about certain types of weapons ignores the fundamental purpose of the Second amendment. The Second amendment is not about hunting deer or keeping a pistol in your nightstand. It is not about protecting oneself against common criminals. It is about preventing tyranny. The Founders knew that unarmed citizens would never be able to overthrow a tyrannical government as they did. They envisioned government as a servant, not a master, of the American people. The muskets they used against the British Army were the assault rifles of the time. It is practical, rather than alarmist, to understand that unarmed citizens cannot be secure in their freedoms. It's convenient for gun banners to dismiss this argument by saying “That could never happen here, this is America” — but history shows that only vigilant people can keep government under control. By banning certain weapons today, we may plant the seeds for tyranny to flourish ten, thirty, or fifty years from now.
To own an automatic weapon requires a tax stamp,in many cases a trust for the ownership, and about $30,000 to purchase it. This is not an automatic weapon, it's a semi automatic pistol, which requires a background check. Of course, CRIMINALS do not care about background checks or whether their weapon is legal.
Don't take the guns away from the GOOD law abiding citizens... they use them to protect themselves and YOU. You can NEVER get the guns away from the criminals. Period.
You are absolutely right. Why are assault weapons legal, except for law enforcement and military personnel? And I can not help but wonder, why the mother of this shooter felt the need to have that many guns in her home, and especially assault weapons?
This is what is so fustrating about people trying to bann guns. They argue and argue but dont even know the difference between what guns are what. And im sure someone will reply with Well Does it Matter what the difference is? Yes is does matter to People who own legal guns and use them responsibly and to Protect MY FAMILY.Most people that want guns banned Live in Very Nice areas.Dont have to worry about home invasions or being robbed or ANYTHING that has to do with bad things.Try it the other way for 1 year and then come back and lets see your opinion on owning a gun. AND THAT IS THE TRUTH
Not a lot of common sense in these gun/hunting enthusiasts, they buy a $750 rifle to hunt meat that's $3 a pound @ Walmart, and they hunt with a full stomach too. Not very smart group of people.
The issue isn't the gun or type of gun, it's mental state of the person holding the gun. The real issue is improving our mental healthcare system, helping people who have issues to find help before they lose it. The majority of gun crimes are committed with unregistered illegal weapons. Hindering our 2nd amendment right would only play into the hands of the criminals.
this is what liberals and democrats can't seem to understand for all good questions we go to google. the weapon used was an AR15 AR doesn't stand for ASSAULT RIFLE it stands for the company who invented the AR15 which is ARMALITE an assault rifle is what the military uses for assault raids they are fully automatic unlike civilian guns which are semi automatic meaning one shot per trigger pull NO AMERICAN CITIZEN can purchase a FULLY AUTOMATIC GUN its ILLEGAL ALREADY DUM DUMS!
I think it just depends on the area where you live if guns are more a threat than the purpose they hold. I live in the desert West of Tucson and there can be some wild animals out here in open nature. Having a firearm in any city and sooner or later trouble comes to you. So depending where you live the needs for a firearm are completely different.
The present system is obvoiusly not working. Changes have to be made.Common
sense tells you this when the U.S leads the world in senseless shootings.
Nasty comments won't help resolve this problem.
Anyone who thinks the U.S doesn't have a problem with guns probably can't
be helped.
Kiip, you mean that the ONLY reason to own a car is to have an accident and kill someone?
Wow!
sounds like an Arab wedding.
Good Morning dave
Idiot rationale...
I love that when people are in danger, they take the time to turn to Twitter to let everyone know it's so dangerous that they have time for Twitter.
Based on your comments, it is paranoid madhatters (w/ a tinfoil lining) like you who should never have access to guns... your warped since of reality will only cause grief sooner or later... take yours meds and voluntarily give up your phallic enhancers before your hurt someone.
Yes, and be quick about it..,,
Never owned a gun in my life. While Christmas shopping today for my grandchildren do you think I should go ahead and purchase one before I am NOT allowed to do so?
Only if you have a desire to learn how to handle and store one safely.
Shame on CNN for giving people like John Lott a voice on their tv show.
Well you seem to hate the 1st and 2nd amendment. Is there any part of this country that you love????
@Dave.... How about the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness? You threaten someone with a gun, you take away their happiness. You point a gun at someone, you take away their liberty. You pull the trigger, you take away their life. Is your right to own a gun more important than my right to live?
I haven't shopped a mall this Christmas. Not sure I shopped one last Chrstmas, either. This just makes me feel better about avoiding them at all costs.
MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION!!!
What a pity we can not be nicer to eachother, Guns are not the problem, the way we are thinking is. When we do not show respect to each other and watch the TV shows and Congress that are-is just mean and make them Number 1 what do you expect.
We as a Country need Think before we do and Puching or Shooting the finger at each other. I am just as Guilty of all but I am going to try to Think before I do. Hopefully.
Where's the love?
I Say BAN ALL PEOPLE – if there were NO PEOPLE,,, than there'd be no problems !!! Ban ALL PEOPLE !!!