Man Fires Assault Rifle In Downtown Petaluma: Police

SONOMA COUNTY, CA – Petaluma police arrested a Eureka man on suspicion of firing an assault rifle downtown early this morning.

Travis Morgan, 51, was told to leave Gale's Central Club at 106 Petaluma Blvd. N. around 12:15 a.m., Sgt. Ron Klein said.

Morgan was causing a disturbance and acting oddly in the bar, and he mentioned having guns in his car as he was leaving, Klein said.

"As he was walking away from the bar he made a comment about having guns in his car," the department said. "A short time later, Morgan was seen by a witness on Western Ave. near American Alley holding an AR-15 assault type rifle."

The witness who reported seeing Morgan on Western Avenue holding the weapon grabbed it from Morgan, who then ran north on American Alley, Klein said.

A patrol officer found Morgan near the 24 Hour Fitness gym on Petaluma Boulevard North and he was arrested without incident, Klein said.

Morgan had allegedly fired the rifle in the downtown area, and two rifle casings that matched the rifle he was carrying were found near a Ford F-150 associated with him, Klein said.

Police do not know at what Morgan was shooting, and no damage was found in the downtown area, Klein said.

Morgan was on post-release community supervision for being in possession of stolen property, Klein said. He was booked into Sonoma County Jail on suspicion of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Police are investigating whether the rifle, which was from Santa Rosa, was recently stolen, Klein said.

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--Bay City News contributed to this report/Image via Renee Schiavone, Patch