Scottsdale, AZ — A routine door-to-door sales visit allegedly turned into a violent confrontation when an 80-year-old homeowner tracked down a salesman riding a Segway and shot him, leaving the man with a spinal injury and unable to feel his legs, according to police and an arrest affidavit.
Patrick McBride is facing charges of aggravated assault causing serious physical injury and disorderly conduct with a weapon following the Sunday shooting in his gated north Scottsdale community.
The salesman, whose name has not been publicly released, had been traveling through the neighborhood on an electric Segway while offering window-washing services. At one point, he stopped at McBride’s home and asked for water, according to the affidavit.
Police said McBride became suspicious of the man’s explanation for being in the neighborhood.
Homeowner allegedly retrieves his handgun
According to the affidavit, McBride told investigators that he confronted the salesman about not being allowed inside the private community.
The salesman then left on his Segway. McBride reportedly became upset after seeing the man point his cellphone toward the house, believing he might have been taking pictures or recording.
The salesman later told police that he remained in the area because he believed he had lost his wallet and wanted to search for it. About 10 minutes later, McBride and his wife allegedly decided to search the neighborhood to make sure the salesman had left.
The affidavit states that McBride retrieved his handgun from a safe before heading outside. He told investigators he normally carried the weapon when leaving home and placed it in a holster attached to the left side of his pants because he was left-handed.
His wife drove in one direction while McBride walked in another, according to police.
Two different accounts of what happened
The pair eventually located the salesman. McBride told investigators that he yelled at the man to leave. According to his account, the salesman began riding toward him on the Segway while raising his right hand, which was holding a cellphone.
Police said McBride claimed he became fearful that the salesman was about to do something and drew his handgun while stepping to the side. The two then collided, McBride told investigators, and his pistol “suddenly went off.”
McBride said he did not initially realize the salesman had been shot. The salesman’s account was different. According to police, the victim said he saw McBride pull out the handgun while he was turning away. The salesman told investigators that McBride then shot him in the back.
The conflicting accounts are now part of the investigation.
Salesman left unable to feel his legs
The injured salesman was rushed to a hospital following the shooting and was reported to be in stable condition with a spinal injury. The arrest affidavit states that the victim could not feel his legs after being shot.
McBride remained at the scene after the shooting. His wife reportedly used towels to apply pressure to the victim’s wound while they waited for emergency responders.
When officers arrived, McBride allegedly told them the salesman “shouldn’t be in this neighborhood” and claimed the man had made a move toward him after being told to leave.
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Investigators later found McBride’s handgun. Police said the weapon had a cracked and partially broken trigger guard. Officers also discovered a shell casing in McBride’s pocket.
The affidavit says McBride admitted picking up the casing and placing it in his pocket because he wanted to “preserve evidence.”
McBride maintains he acted in self-defense
McBride told police that he was afraid the salesman was going to do something but denied intentionally firing the weapon. He also insisted that the shooting was an act of self-defense.
According to the affidavit, McBride had attended the U.S. Air Force Academy, where he received handgun and rifle training. McBride remained in custody this week on $150,000 bond as the case moved forward.
The investigation will have to address the sharply different accounts of the confrontation, including what happened immediately before the gun was fired and whether McBride’s actions were legally justified.
What do you think about this unusual confrontation between the homeowner and the door-to-door salesman? Share your thoughts in the comments.











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