After Waving Shotgun, Man Arrested in Schulenburg

Schulenburg Police arrested a man Saturday morning after the suspect allegedly walked around his yard waving a loaded shotgun.

According to SPD Sgt. Tobey McFadden, police received a call shortly before 8:30 a.m. reporting a man yelling and walking around with a shotgun at the apartments located at 1105 W. Summit St. (US Hwy. 90). Schulenburg Police Officer Devan Taylor responded along with Deputy Joe Gonzalez of the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office.

“The guy was walking around with the shotgun and waving it around, but he never pointed it at anyone or made any direct threats to anyone,” McFadden said.

McFadden said the suspect, later identified as Christopher Daniel Williams, 38 of Schulenburg, went into the apartment and then came back out without the shotgun.

“He was doing some odd maneuvers, talking to himself and pointing at the sky,” McFadden said. “It looked like a mental health crisis.”

Deputy Gonzalez attempted to speak with Williams through the PA on his patrol car, but Williams didn’t acknowledge Gonzalez and continued the erratic behavior. Around 8:32 a.m., McFadden arrived at the apartments along with Sgt. Ron Naumann of the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office. At that point, Naumann requested assistance from a special response team. Officers at the scene eventually took Williams into custody and did not need the special response team.

McFadden said he and the other officers set up a perimeter around the house.

“We were trying to figure out a way of separating this individual from the weapon inside the apartment and safely take him into custody,” McFadden said. Officers evacuated everyone else living at the apartments. Deputies Terry Guentert and Adam Mack, along with DPS Trooper Josh Berger, arrived and staged inside an apartment adjacent to the suspect’s dwelling. McFadden secured the back of Williams’ residence.

“He opened the back door and I observed he didn’t have a weapon, so I went ahead and grabbed him,” McFadden said.

Guentert, Mack and Berger helped McFadden take Williams into custody. The officers searched the apartment and found a loaded 12 gauge shotgun and a loaded .45 caliber pistol, along with over four ounces of marijuana. Officers arrested Williams and initially charged him with felony possession of marijuana. He may face additional charges, McFadden said.

Fayette County EMS evaluated Williams before officers transported him to the Fayette County Jail. McFadden said Williams underwent a mental health evaluation at the jail as well. No one suffered any physical injuries during the ordeal.