Affidavit: Man arrested in Old Town standoff randomly fired shots, including toward park
A 41-year-old Wichita man who was arrested and charged after a SWAT standoff at an Old Town apartment earlier this month is accused of randomly shooting off his guns around town, including out of his apartment window and toward Naftzger Park, according to a court document released this week.
Jonathan Bernard Ross has been charged with aggravated criminal threat, two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, criminal threat, domestic battery and two counts of unlawful discharge of a firearm. The charges stem from a June 12 standoff that started with a domestic violence call and led to businesses and tenants being evacuated from a building in the 600 block of East Douglas.
They also stem from accusations that he fired guns in the city on two different occasions, including two rounds from his handgun out of the sunroof of his car when he and his girlfriend were headed south on Oliver to a beauty store around 10 a.m. on June 12 and eight to 10 rounds from his handgun and rifle out of his apartment window around 12:50 p.m. on June 1.
The affidavit details what happened the day of the standoff and times he allegedly fired his guns.
The June 12 incident was reported to police by his girlfriend, who along with multiple other people, also reported shots were fired on June 1.
A video she provided to police on the June 1 incident shows Ross lying in front of a window. She says “Baby, don’t do it,” and Ross responds, “Cover your ears,” the affidavit says.
At least some of the gunshots that day were fired toward Naftzger Park.
Responding officers weren’t able to find any evidence of damage or shots fired, Capt. Aaron Moses said.
One person who called 911, thinking it was fireworks, said he saw a “figure jumping and rolling around and laughing” from an open window, the affidavit says. Another person reported seeing someone in their apartment lying on a bed when they heard a boom and saw smoke. They also reported the man holding a weapon that they thought looked like an AK-47, the affidavit says.
After Ross surrendered following the standoff, police found ammo, spent cartridges and six firearms: five handguns and an AR-15 style gun.
Here is what the affidavit says happened before the standoff:
Ross’ girlfriend reported he drank vodka and tequila overnight and that morning.
After coming back from the beauty store, Ross got upset with his girlfriend and started throwing her stuff into the hallway.
“Video evidence ... shows Ross opening the door and pointing/hitting (her) in the head with a handgun and pointing it at her as she retreats to the elevator,” the affidavit says. “The security video also shows Ross pointing an AR15 style rifle and handgun at (her) when he reemerged from the apartment.”
When she asked him why he pointed a gun at her, he said “because I want to shoot you” and told her that he would “bust any (expletive)“ who tried to stop him, the affidavit says.
Police were called around 12:45 p.m. on June 12. They blocked off the area on Douglas and evacuated tenants of the building and multiple surrounding businesses. Snipers and SWAT members responded to the call.
Ross surrendered peacefully around 4:45 p.m. He remained jailed Thursday.
