Man Pulled Shotgun on 3 Children Who Taunted Him, Police Say

Police took a 90-year-old man into custody Thursday after he pulled a shotgun on three children who had been taunting him, authorities said.

Louis Anderson peacefully surrendered about 3:30 p.m. after 10 Ventura police officers surrounded his Shearwater Street home.

Andrew Arroyo, 13, acknowledged he and two friends had been harassing Anderson.

“We were knocking on his door, kicking it and then running away,” the teenager said as he rolled a skateboard back and forth under his foot. “I don’t know why we were doing it, we just were.”

After several provocations, Anderson came outside onto his front lawn and pointed the gun in the direction of the youths, telling them to leave him alone, authorities said.

Two neighbors called police.

“The kids taunt the poor guy, but you’re not supposed to point guns at people,” said Linda Robertson, one of the neighbors.

As police surrounded the house, Robertson telephoned her neighbor and said he should come out with his hands up. “I know all about this,” she said he responded. “That’s a good way to get shot.”

Neighbors said children for weeks have been pestering Anderson, considered by his neighbors to be chatty and friendly. One man said he called the police several days earlier to report the harassment. As Anderson was escorted from his home, he joked with officers saying, “Wow, you won’t see a show like this every day.”

Asked why he waved the gun, Anderson said, “Oh no, I just took it out to look at the barrel.”

Authorities removed two rifles from Anderson’s home.

Police have put Anderson in a mental health facility, where an evaluation will be conducted. He will be held for up to 72 hours because he is considered a danger to himself or others, police said.

“He never posed an obvious threat, but he seemed confused,” said Ventura Police Sgt. George Morris. “This isn’t a criminal issue; it’s a mental issue.”