July 6, 2015 at 4:19 p.m.
Rhinelander man accused of going on a shooting spree with airsoft gun
Alleged incidents with toy gun net felony charge
Rhinelander man accused of going on a shooting spree with airsoft gun
According to the criminal complaint, the Rhinelander Police Department responded to Mason Street June 22 after a 21-year-old reported that a car with four individuals in it drove up to where he and a friend were riding their bikes.
A passenger in the car pointed a BB or airsoft gun out the rear window and fired several times at the two, with one shot striking the man in the face near the mouth, the man reported. He told officers he "audibly heard a pop, pop, pop, like that of an airsoft or BB gun while the weapon was being fired."
The man was treated at the scene by paramedics but later sought further treatment at St. Mary's Hospital for the wound, which was bleeding. According to the police report, the shooter also made a disparaging remark about the alleged victim's cognitive disability after shooting him.
Three days later on June 25, a 21-year-old man came to the Rhinelander Police Department to report an incident that he said occurred that morning. He said he was stopped at a traffic signal at the intersection of Thayer and Phillip streets when a car pulled up alongside of him in the other lane. He told the detective that the driver and lone occupant of the car just stared at him until the light changed. As he pulled away from the light he said "he heard a 'tinking' noise coming from the side of his truck." He said he believed that the driver of the car had shot at him with a BB gun, and started following him. As he followed the car at a normal rate of speed, the alleged victim said he was able to write down the license number of the vehicle, but not before the driver made an obscene gesture at him.
The license plate number the alleged victim gave police was for a vehicle registered to Cody M. Ritchie. When the detective interviewed Ritchie, he said he had been driving "recklessly" that morning to get away from a truck whose driver had "threatened him and (was) trying to race him," according to the report. When asked if he shot at the truck, Ritchie allegedly admitted to shooting at the truck "because he felt threatened" when the driver allegedly made an obscene gesture at him. When the detective asked him why he didn't just pull over and call 9-1-1 instead of shooting with the airsoft gun, Ritchie allegedly repeated that he felt threatened.
The detective then asked Ritchie about the incident June 22. He told the officer he was driving down Mason Street when he saw two men on bicycles. When one of them tried to stop the car and started walking toward him, he shot at him, he said. When asked to explain his actions, Ritchie repeated that he felt threatened and feared for his safety.
When asked why he didn't just lock the car doors and roll up the windows, the report states Ritchie said he felt threatened and "shot them to protect himself." A search of Ritchie's car found a 5,000-round container of airsoft pellets and a shotgun-type rifle.
Ritchie also retrieved two more airsoft guns, one a pistol, from his house. He told the detective that he shot the man on Mason Street with the pistol, according to the report.
Ritchie was arrested and taken to the Oneida County Jail.
The detective's report states that airsoft guns fire pellets at between 330-380 feet per second at a maximum range of 65 yards. The report also states that the speed is similar to that of a bolt from a compound bow or crossbow and noted that airsoft guns are considered dangerous weapons.
Ritchie made his initial appearance before Branch II Judge Michael Bloom June 29. He is charged with felony injury by negligent use of a dangerous weapon and misdemeanor battery, negligent handling of a weapon and disorderly conduct. A forfeiture charge of disorderly conduct was also filed.
Bloom gave Ritchie a $5,000 signature bond with the condition that he be home between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. except when working. He is also prohibited from possessing a firearm, knife, bow and arrow, or air-powered weapon while the case is pending.
Ritchie's adjourned initial appearance was scheduled for July 27.
If convicted of the felony, Ritchie faces up to three years and six months in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
Jamie Taylor may be reached at [email protected].
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