Pierce County Prosecutor Mark Lindquist charged Douglas McRae, 59, with Assault in the First Degree and Assault in the Second Degree for firing multiple shots at cars near his Gig Harbor home earlier this week. The defendant was arraigned today and bail was set at $200,000.

“This case is concerning not just because of the firearms, but because of the strange behavior of the defendant,” said Prosecutor Mark Lindquist.

Around 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 15, two women were locking the gates of an elementary school where they work when they heard three gunshots close by. The women got in their cars and were driving home when they both saw a man, later identified as the defendant, standing in the middle of the road with a rifle. The first woman accelerated and drove around the defendant as he cocked the rifle. As the second victim came upon the defendant, he fired two shots, one that hit her front passenger tire. The victims proceeded to a gas station, where they called police.

Officers responded to the area and arrested the defendant outside of his home. The defendant had two loaded guns, a mini 14 rifle and Glock handgun, in his possession. The defendant claimed he had arrived home to find a man and a woman leaving his house, carrying his guns, and he fired warning shots. Later, the defendant said a naked woman came to his door and, because of the cold, he had no choice but to let her in. He said he believed she had something to do with the robbery.

Officers executed a search warrant on the defendant’s house and found large amounts of ammunition and multiple weapons, which were seized. There were no obvious signs of a break in or burglary. No naked woman was found.

Charges are only allegations and a person is presumed innocent unless he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.