Neighbor: Shooter 'didn't have nothin' else to do'

By Susan Harding KATU News and KATU.com Staff Published: Sep 27, 2009 at 6:50 PM PST Last Updated: Sep 28, 2009 at 12:51 AM PST
Rural Woodland, Wash. »Play Video
The scene where a man shot more than 30 rounds into the air, the ground and across the street in rural Woodland, Wash., before SWAT busted up his one-man party.

WOODLAND, Wash. - A man with a military style rifle is accused of targeting cars in Clark County. Police arrived after several neighbors called 9-1-1.

Investigators said neighbors of 39-year-old Damon Stumbaugh heard at least 30 rounds of gunfire and saw him firing in his yard and pointing two guns at passing cars. When deputies came out, investigators said he was still firing, so they called in the Southwest Washington Regional SWAT team.

It's not uncommon to hear gunfire here in the northern countryside of Clark County. However, it's usually target shooting.

One neighbor, who's keeping his identity hidden, said he wasn't surprised when he heard the shots.

"Yesterday he pulled it a few more times than he usually does," said the neighbor. "It was a lot of gunfire, but that's all it was - a whole bunch of gunfire. I mean, I didn't rush out to see who pulled the trigger cause I knew who pulled the trigger. It was the neighbor."

Investigators said Damon Stumbaugh stood in his front yard, and fired a semi-automatic rifle and a handgun into the air, into the ground and then across the rural street - possibly at passing cars.

Corner of Horton Road and Cedar Creek Road in Woodburn, Wash.It appears at least one round flew across Northeast Cedar Creek Road. At least two rounds hit outbuildings.

"My grandson saw the round drop," the neighbor said. "It's in the grass somewhere."

He said Stumbaugh has the right to fire on his own property. That's true in this part of this county, as long as someone doesn't endanger others.
    
"There's no restrictions on shooting up there," said Sergeant Scott Schanaker at the Clark County Sheriff's Office. "Just a restriction on what you shoot."

When a SWAT team confronted Stumbaugh, he was inside his truck with the semi-automatic rifle upright in the front passenger seat. Investigators said Stumbaugh drove across his yard, and then surrendered.

"It appears alcohol may be involved," Schanaker said.

Detectives are still trying to determine if any rounds hit any of the passing cars. However, at least one neighbor said he's not worried.

"It's a clean-cut case," he said. "He didn't have nothin' else to do, and he likes firearms. What can you do?"

Stumbaugh posted bail and is now out of jail.