Police arrest Lower Lake man for Friday night drive-by shooting that injured one
- Lake County News reports
- Posted On
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake Police Department said it has arrested a Lower Lake resident for a Friday night drive-by shooting at a gas station that injured a man.
Michael Thomas Wagner, 52, was arrested early Saturday and booked into the Lake County Jail on numerous felony charges, according to police.
Clearlake Police Sgt. Ryan Peterson said that at approximately 8:41 p.m. Friday officers responded to the Mobil gas station in the 15000 block of Lakeshore Drive for a report of a shooting.
Based on the investigation, Peterson said it is believed that Wagner arrived at the gas station on his “trike”-style three-wheeled motorcycle and had a verbal altercation with a male adult passenger seated in a vehicle next to the gas pumps.
As the vehicle began to drive away, Wagner retrieved a handgun and fired a single shot at the vehicle, Peterson said. The single gunshot struck the victim in his torso and he was immediately transported to the hospital by the driver of the vehicle.
Peterson said Wagner left the area on his motorcycle and was seen by witnesses driving toward Lower Lake.
The victim was transported to an out-of-county hospital for further treatment and was last reported to be in stable condition, Peterson said.
As officers continued their investigation into the early morning on Saturday, they obtained information that led to the identification of Wagner and the location of his residence in Lower Lake, according to Peterson’s report.
Officers went to Wagner’s home, found his trike motorcycle and then located Wagner in a nearby trailer. Peterson said Wagner was still in possession of the handgun believed to have been used in the shooting and wearing the same clothing.
Wagner is a convicted felon prohibited from owning firearms or ammunition, Peterson said.
Peterson said Wagner was arrested on probable cause for attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, carrying a loaded firearm with the intent to commit a felony, and a convicted person in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Wagner was booked at the Lake County Jail on the felony charges.
Jail records show that Wagner is being held on $200,000 bail. He is scheduled to be arraigned on Monday.
The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to contact Det. Leo Flores at 707-994-8251.