An 80-year-old Arizona man allegedly hunted down a door-to-door salesman on a Segway and shot him in the back, leaving the victim with a spinal injury that has paralyzed his legs, according to police. Patrick McBride faces charges of aggravated assault causing serious physical injury and disorderly conduct with a weapon following the shooting in his gated north Scottsdale community.
Background
The incident began when the salesman, who has not been publicly identified, rode an electric Segway into McBride's neighborhood offering window-washing services. He stopped at McBride's home and rang the doorbell to ask for water, stating he had been working in the area. McBride became suspicious of the man's presence and confronted him, warning that he was not permitted inside the private community. As the salesman rode away, McBride alleged the man pointed a cellphone at the house, recording or photographing him, which 'did not sit well' with the defendant. The salesman claimed he remained nearby because he believed he had lost his wallet and wanted to search for it.
The Investigation
About 10 minutes after the initial encounter, McBride and his wife devised a plan to ensure the salesman had left the neighborhood. McBride retrieved a handgun from a safe and holstered it on his left hip, while his wife drove a car to search the northern section of the community and McBride walked south. When McBride allegedly spotted the salesman, he yelled for him to leave. Accounts of the subsequent confrontation differ significantly. McBride claimed the salesman rode toward him, gaining speed and raising his phone, causing a collision that resulted in the gun accidentally discharging. However, the salesman told police he was turning away when McBride pulled out the handgun and opened fire, striking him in the back. Investigators later found McBride's pistol with a cracked trigger guard and a shell casing in his pocket, which McBride admitted to picking up to 'preserve evidence.'
Key Takeaways
- Patrick McBride, 80, is charged with aggravated assault causing serious physical injury and disorderly conduct with a weapon.
- The victim, a door-to-door salesman on a Segway, suffered a spinal injury and cannot feel his legs.
- McBride claimed self-defense, stating the gun discharged accidentally during a collision, while the victim alleges he was shot in the back while leaving.
- McBride is being held on a $150,000 bond.
- The incident occurred in a gated community in north Scottsdale, Arizona.
- The case is categorized as aggravated assault because the victim survived, despite severe paralysis.
- Police are investigating the conflicting accounts of the confrontation to determine if the shooting was intentional or accidental.
- The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office is handling the investigation and charging decisions.
What's Next
McBride is scheduled for a preliminary hearing in Maricopa County Superior Court to determine if there is sufficient evidence to proceed to trial. The defense is expected to argue accidental discharge and self-defense, while prosecutors will likely present forensic evidence regarding the gunshot trajectory and the victim's position at the time of the shooting. The victim's recovery and potential civil litigation remain ongoing developments.