El Cajon

A former mental patient suspected of firing a gun at people and cars on Christmas Day in El Cajon was found innocent by reason of insanity Tuesday.

Douglas Alan Sherer, 31, of El Cajon, will appear Sept. 3 before San Diego Superior Court Judge Raul Rosado for either a commitment to a mental hospital or outpatient treatment. He could be committed to an institution for life.

Rosado ruled Sherer was guilty but insane at the time when he committed three counts of assault with a deadly weapon and one count of firing at the World Savings & Loan Assn. building on Fletcher Parkway.

Sherer waived his right to a jury trial last week, and Rosado took the case under submission with only psychiatric records and the preliminary hearing transcript as evidence. No witnesses were called.