Man Accused of Opening Fire in Winchester Neighborhood

MURRIETA, CA - A man accused of aimlessly firing a rifle inside and outside his Winchester home was charged Wednesday with reckless discharge of a firearm.

David Scott Gregory, 66, was arrested on the felony allegation Friday night after Riverside County sheriff's deputies were called to his residence in the 32000 block of Armoise Drive, near Fontaine Street, to investigate complaints that he had been shooting a long rifle. The type was not disclosed.

"Deputies arrived at the residential area and determined... Gregory had been firing multiple shots, from what appeared to be a rifle, from both his front and backyard, as well as possibly from inside his home," sheriff's Sgt. Steve Fredericks said following the incident. "Deputies, who observed multiple spent casings in the vicinity, surrounded Gregory’s residence and evacuated adjacent neighbors as a precaution."

At that point, an hours-long standoff began.

"Multiple attempts were made to safely contact Gregory, including the use of a public address system, to no avail," Fredericks said. "Ultimately, Gregory surrendered peacefully to patrol deputies at 2:54 a.m. Saturday morning."

Gregory, who is being held in lieu of $500,000 bail at the Southwest Detention Center in Murrieta, is slated to make his initial court appearance Wednesday afternoon at the Southwest Justice Center.

The defendant has no prior felony convictions, and according to court records, he was acquitted of a misdemeanor charge of exhibiting a firearm in a threatening manner in 2014.

– By City News Service / Image via Riverside County Sheriff's Department.