Shooting Range Shootout Ends Drama
Updated 11:05 AM ET July 7, 1999
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (Reuters) - A shootout at a California shooting range ended a bizarre
hostage drama during which three gun store employees found themselves staring down the
barrel of one of their own rented rifles, police said Tuesday.
Sgt. Anton Morec of the Santa Clara Police Department said the aspiring gunman, 21-year-old
Richard Gable Stevens, was subdued after tense moments Monday evening at a shooting
range and gun store in this town 30 miles (48 km) south of San Francisco.
"He intended to go out in a blaze of glory," Morec said, noting Stevens had accumulated more
than 100 rounds of ammunition for his rented 9mm semi-automatic weapon.
"It certainly looks like he intended to take a lot more people out."
Morec said Stevens arrived at the National Shooting Club Monday evening and rented the rifle
for target practice. The club allows people to rent a range of weapons for use on its own
shooting range.
After several minutes on the range, however, Stevens returned to the club's gun store and shot
at the ceiling. He then herded three store employees out the door into an alley, saying he
intended to kill them, Morec said.
Unknown to Stevens, one store employee was carrying a .45 caliber handgun concealed
beneath his shirt. When Stevens looked away, the employee fired, hitting Stevens several
times in the chest and bringing him to the ground.
The employee kept his gun trained on Stevens until police arrived, Morec said. When Stevens
refused to comply with police demands that he show his hands, he was shot again with several
rounds of rubber bullets.
Morec said Stevens was taken to a hospital where he was listed in critical condition from the
initial gun wounds. Criminal charges against him were pending.
Police investigating the case believed the quick action by the gun club employee may have
headed off a massacre.
"He was full of rage, and felt he was getting no respect," Morec said. A suicide note found in
Stevens' vehicle and addressed to his parents indicated he may have planned to go on a much
broader shooting spree, Morec said.
"Now you'll spend the rest of your lives fighting lawsuits from my victims' relatives and die with
only dimes perhaps," Morec quoted the note as saying.
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Updated 11:05 AM ET July 7, 1999
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (Reuters) - A shootout at a California shooting range ended a bizarre
hostage drama during which three gun store employees found themselves staring down the
barrel of one of their own rented rifles, police said Tuesday.
Sgt. Anton Morec of the Santa Clara Police Department said the aspiring gunman, 21-year-old
Richard Gable Stevens, was subdued after tense moments Monday evening at a shooting
range and gun store in this town 30 miles (48 km) south of San Francisco.
"He intended to go out in a blaze of glory," Morec said, noting Stevens had accumulated more
than 100 rounds of ammunition for his rented 9mm semi-automatic weapon.
"It certainly looks like he intended to take a lot more people out."
Morec said Stevens arrived at the National Shooting Club Monday evening and rented the rifle
for target practice. The club allows people to rent a range of weapons for use on its own
shooting range.
After several minutes on the range, however, Stevens returned to the club's gun store and shot
at the ceiling. He then herded three store employees out the door into an alley, saying he
intended to kill them, Morec said.
Unknown to Stevens, one store employee was carrying a .45 caliber handgun concealed
beneath his shirt. When Stevens looked away, the employee fired, hitting Stevens several
times in the chest and bringing him to the ground.
The employee kept his gun trained on Stevens until police arrived, Morec said. When Stevens
refused to comply with police demands that he show his hands, he was shot again with several
rounds of rubber bullets.
Morec said Stevens was taken to a hospital where he was listed in critical condition from the
initial gun wounds. Criminal charges against him were pending.
Police investigating the case believed the quick action by the gun club employee may have
headed off a massacre.
"He was full of rage, and felt he was getting no respect," Morec said. A suicide note found in
Stevens' vehicle and addressed to his parents indicated he may have planned to go on a much
broader shooting spree, Morec said.
"Now you'll spend the rest of your lives fighting lawsuits from my victims' relatives and die with
only dimes perhaps," Morec quoted the note as saying.
<A HREF="http://www.netbabbler.com/goto/index.php3?forumid=12204">
Joe's Second Amendment Message Board</A>