Man arrested after El Dorado deputies say he pointed gun at Highway 50 gas station customer
A 69-year-old man who allegedly pointed a loaded shotgun at a customer inside an El Dorado County gas station Saturday was arrested by deputies after a brief standoff.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, the man entered the Chevron station on the 7700 block of Highway 50 in Fresh Pond around 4 p.m. and “pointed a loaded shotgun at one of the customers.”
That customer was Justin Whitton, who told The Sacramento Bee that was in the store stocking up on camping supplies, ice, snacks and energy drinks before a trip with his family.
Whitton was on his way to Ice House Campgrounds, about 20 minutes east of the gas station, with his wife, three daughters and one of their friends. Whitton and his wife went into the store for some last-minute items.
“We’re shopping and everything seemed normal,” Whitton said.
After getting snacks and drinks, Whitton headed toward the store’s camping and outdoor section and saw an older man with long, grayish-white hair who was squatting down with his back turned.
The man turned to Whitton, he said, with sweat pouring down his face. Whitton said he asked the man if he was OK.
Without saying a word, the man pulled out the shotgun, pumped it and pointed it directly in Whitton’s face with his wife standing next to him.
Whitton said he was terrified for his life, staring down the barrel of the black and silver firearm.
“Once we realized what’s happening, I grabbed her and we ran to the left to get to the other side of the wall where the cashier and people are,” Whitton said. “I’m no longer in his direct line of fire and I start screaming for everyone to get out of the store. ‘This guy’s got a gun, everybody out,’ and I just kept screaming and repeating. I hold the door, everybody runs out and we all split back to cover.”
Whitton said there were eight or nine people in the gas station when the gunman made his move.
“All of the employees and customers were able to quickly and safely leave the store without being harmed,” the Sheriff’s Office said in a social media post. “Law enforcement quickly arrived to the gas station and established contact with subject inside who eventually exited the store and surrendered peacefully to law enforcement.”
No injuries were reported.
Whitton and his family continued to the campsite. He said it was the most traumatic experience his family has ever endured.
“The entire night (we were) pretty much in shock,” Whitton said. “I was angry for the first few hours, just mad that this happened. ... It’s definitely had an impact on me, man. I’m thinking this guy almost robbed my three daughters of their father.”
Deputies identified the man as a resident of Fresh Pond, which is just east of Pollock Pines, and booked him into jail in Placerville.
The man faces five felony charges in connection with the incident, including assault with a firearm on a person and resisting arrest, according to jail logs. He was being held on $213,000 bail and is expected to be arraigned Tuesday.
