An 80-year-old Scottsdale man is facing felony charges after a door-to-door salesman was shot during a confrontation in a gated north Scottsdale neighborhood, leaving the victim hospitalized with a spinal injury and unable to feel his legs, according to court records and police.
Patrick Joseph McBride was arrested after Scottsdale police responded to a shooting shortly after 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 13, near Pima Road and Stagecoach Pass. Officers found the salesman with a gunshot wound to his lower back. He was taken to a hospital and was later reported to be in stable condition.
Salesman had stopped at the home to ask for water
The salesman had been visiting homes in the private community while offering window-washing services. He was traveling on an electric Segway when he stopped at McBride’s residence and asked for water after saying he had been working in the neighborhood.
McBride told investigators that he became suspicious of the man’s presence and questioned why he was in the gated community. He reportedly told the salesman to leave.
As the salesman rode away, McBride said the man pointed his cellphone toward the house. McBride interpreted that as possibly taking a picture or recording him, according to the investigation.
The salesman later told police that he had stayed in the area because he believed he had misplaced his wallet and wanted to find it.
McBride went looking for the salesman
About 10 minutes after the initial encounter, McBride and his wife reportedly decided to check whether the salesman had left the neighborhood.
According to court documents, McBride retrieved a handgun from a safe and carried it in a holster on his left hip. His wife drove through part of the neighborhood while McBride walked in another direction.
McBride eventually encountered the salesman again and told him to leave.
What happened during the final confrontation is disputed.
McBride told investigators that the salesman began riding toward him on the Segway while holding his cellphone. McBride said he became afraid the man was going to do something and drew his handgun. He claimed the gun discharged when the two came into contact.
The salesman gave police a different account. He said he saw McBride pull out the handgun while he was turning away and then heard a gunshot before feeling pain in his back. Police found that he had been shot in the lower back.
Victim reported losing feeling in his legs
The shooting left the salesman with a serious spinal injury. Court documents state that he told officers he could not feel his legs after being shot.
McBride remained at the scene following the shooting. His wife used towels to apply pressure to the victim’s wound while waiting for emergency responders.
When officers arrived, McBride reportedly told them that the salesman should not have been in the neighborhood and claimed the man had made a move toward him.
Investigators later recovered McBride’s handgun. Police said the firearm had a cracked, partially damaged trigger guard. A spent shell casing was also found in McBride’s pocket. McBride told investigators he had picked it up because he wanted to keep it from being run over by a vehicle.
McBride says he did not intend to shoot him
McBride told investigators that he believed he was acting in self-defense and did not consciously intend to fire at the salesman.
He also told police he had previous firearms training and had experience handling handguns and rifles, including training associated with his time at the U.S. Air Force Academy.
Police arrested McBride following the incident. He faces charges of aggravated assault causing serious physical injury and disorderly conduct involving a weapon. His bond was set at $150,000.
The salesman has not been publicly identified.
Police have said they believe the shooting was an isolated incident and that there is no continuing threat to people in the surrounding community. The investigation remains ongoing.
