Inset: Gerald Haas (Jackson County Detention Center). Background: The residence and driveway of Gerald Haas at 9515 East 47th St. in Kansas City, Mo., where he is accused of brandishing a .38 caliber revolver at a group of teenagers jump-starting their car (Google Maps).
This week, a 69-year-old man from Missouri was arrested after allegedly brandishing a .38 caliber revolver at some teenagers who were trying to jump-start their vehicle in his driveway. Authorities say he threatened them, saying, “If you don’t leave… I’m going to shoot you” before discharging the weapon and retreating indoors.
According to the probable cause statement for Gerald Haas, filed in Jackson County Circuit Court before his arrest on Wednesday, “Everyone scattered away after he fired off his gun,” the document noted.
Haas is accused of drawing his gun on three teens – and one adult – on Monday, July 14, at around 6:15 p.m. after one of their cars broke down and the other one came to its aid, according to the Kansas City Missouri Police Department. Investigators spoke to Haas and the teens involved in the incident, which happened at Haas’ residence in the 9500 block of East 47th Street, per the charging documents.
“Haas stated he advised the individuals to push their vehicles off his driveway,” the probable cause statement says. “Haas stated [a neighbor] came out of his house and began to threaten him. Haas stated [the neighbor] was holding a wooden board and threatened him by stating he was going to, ‘Stick it up your butt.'”
Police say Haas went inside his residence, retrieved his .38 and placed it in his pocket before walking back outside. “Haas stated [the neighbor] told him he had a gun and then threw the wooden board at him, missing him,” the probable cause statement alleges. “Haas stated he pulled out his firearm and then shot one round above [the neighbors] head into the berm behind him.”
According to the teens, they were the ones Haas appeared to be after, with one of them telling police Haas came out of his house with the gun “and something else in his hand that he was waving around” before confronting them over the car.
“[One of the teens] stated they explained to Haas what they were doing and he became more aggressive, pulled out a silver colored revolver and pointed it at her,” the probable cause statement says.
The alleged adult victim added that “Haas yelled, ‘If you don’t get out of my driveway, I’m gonna shoot y’all.'” From there, “everyone was attempting to hurry and get in their vehicles so they can leave the area immediately,” the court document says.
The group told the police this is what ultimately prompted the neighbor to get involved, with the resident walking out and “waving around some sort of firewood brick ‘thing’,” according to police. [The neighbor] was “telling Haas they were just kids and to leave them alone,” the probable cause statement says. After the neighbor allegedly threw the plank, “Haas then fired one round.”
The sexagenarian is charged with felony unlawful use of a weapon and unlawful discharge of a firearm, which is a misdemeanor. He was booked in the Jackson County Detention Center on a $5,000 bond. His next court date is July 23.
