Bowie County sheriff's deputies spent about two hours Friday evening looking for a man who was reported to have been carrying a shotgun down Rock School Road. The gun allegedly was fired a total of five times-two before and three after police arrived, Sheriff James Prince said.
About 5:58 p.m., a man called police to report he had seen a man, later identified as William Thomas Fugate, 26, wearing all black and carrying a shotgun down Rock School Road near the 5000 block of U.S. Highway 59.
Prince said the resident told police that he had confronted Fugate-whose identity was then unknown-and took the shotgun from him.
"At some point, (Fugate) got the gun back and went trying to kick doors open on residences," Prince said. "He took off when the man told him that police were on their way."
When Deputy Lonnie Johnson arrived, he found that two shots had been fired, and then three more rounds were fired off.
The sheriff said that they weren't sure of the direction Fugate was allegedly firing but that he believed he was firing in the air.
"We pursued him and finally found some people down the road that said they had seen him by their home," Prince said.
After checking the area, deputies found an empty box and two unfired shells right just outside a home that turned out to be Fugate's residence. His children's mother, with whom he lives, told law enforcement that Fugate had came home acting in a "disorderly manner."
"She said when he originally left the house that he had the gun, but when he came home he did not have it," Prince said. "She said she and the kids heard sirens after he came back home and took off without the gun."
Bowie County, Texas, Department of Public Safety troopers and K-9's sought the man until about 8 p.m. before calling off the search.
Prince said the department doesn't believe Fugate is a danger to anyone but that he couldn't say for sure. He did say that he thought Fugate would return home.
"There was no one hurt," Prince said at presstime. "We know who he is now. "