A loaded AR-15 semiautomatic rifle was confiscated from a convicted felon after police were informed he had threatened workers in an adult care facility where a family member resides.
Scott Alan Gorman is being held in the Lane County Jail on Wednesday night. Gorman was given three counts of being in possession of a firearm and being a felon and probation violation from a conviction earlier for unlawful use of a firearm.
The 45-year old Gorman kept the weapon in his bedroom. It was found with a 30-round magazine and the gun was set to the “fire” position. Police are searching for the seller of the semiautomatic weapon.
Gorman began threatening the facility in Eugene on Sunday. He stated he was unhappy with the services provided to his family member. The name of the facility has not been released.
Visiting the facility the first time, Gorman stated his displeasure. Afterward, he began calling the facility. He was not blatantly making threats but would reiterate the fact that he had a "lot of" guns and that he carried a concealed handgun license.
Gorman is a resident of Santa Clara, where he lives in a home off River Road with his parents. He gave the detectives permission to collect the several guns from the home.
Police stated there were two firearms taken from the home. The first was a .22 caliber rifle and the second a Mauser bolt-action rifle. Both were kept in the garage.
In addition to the AR-15 semiautomatic rifle in his room, police found four loaded 30-round magazines beside the gun.
Detective Chris White states,
It’s just kind of alarming that he had quick access to that one, with a lot of rounds ready to go. It certainly doesn’t look good that he had this kind of rifle and was making these threats.
Investigators learned that Gorman bought his AR-15 several months ago from someone he was acquainted with.
The serial number did not match up with any stolen gun reports. Police are not sure whether the weapon could have been taken during a burglary, although no serial numbers matched up in this case. Police ask gun owners to jot down serial numbers to give to police in case of theft.
Investigators will continue to track the weapons through the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to locate the previous owner if recorded. Investigators are curious about prior crimes committed with the weapon before it landed in Gorman’s possession.
It has not been announced yet if Gorman will remain behind bars until Jan. 22 when his probation violation hearing is scheduled. Due to the lack of funding, the jail has closed off entire sections of the facility. The beds have been dropped to 135, leaving dozens of inmates released each week.
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