An Arizona man who allegedly entered a Durango pawn shop in July intending to end his own life but was instead shot by an employee has been charged with felony menacing, according to court records.
An arrest affidavit filed in La Plata County Combined Courts reveals new details about the July 29 shooting.
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According to the affidavit, Tucker Lee Haught, 22, entered KP Pawn & Sales, 495 E. College Drive, shortly before 9:45 a.m. with 9 mm rounds in his pocket.
Haught asked to see a firearm and loaded a round into it, according to the affidavit, which is based on security footage.
“Once in possession of the firearm, (Haught) placed one of the 9 mm rounds in the chamber and held the gun to his head,” the affidavit says. “At this time, KP Pawn employee Rashaan Mitchell draws his sidearm and points it at (Haught). No audio could be heard from the footage I observed, but it appears (Mitchell) attempts to reason with (Haught) and tries to get (Haught) to drop the firearm.”
Mitchell reached toward Haught, who pulled away. Another story employee, Charles Cook, called 911.
“Officers arrived on scene at approximately (9:48 a.m.) and were staged outside the business,” according to the affidavit. “Moments after their arrival, a single gun shot was heard from inside the business.”
The shot, reportedly fired by Haught, struck the floor. Security footage then shows him attempting to load another round.
Security footage indicates that as Haught tried to reload, the gun appeared to point toward Mitchell, prompting him to fire four shots at Haught, two of which hit Haught, according to the affidavit.
Two police officers entered the store as Mitchell was firing, according to the affidavit.
After being shot, Haught dropped the weapon. Officers performed life-saving measures while other officers notified paramedics.
According to the affidavit, Haught’s actions constituted menacing and reckless endangerment.
“By using a firearm in a threatening manner and recklessly discharging a firearm placing himself, Rashaan Mitchell and Charles Cook in fear of serious bodily injury/death, probable cause exists in the form of a warrant to charge Tucker Lee Haught for the crimes of Menacing (felony) … and Reckless Endangerment,” the affidavit says.
sedmondson@durangoherald.com
