Ricky Smith, 53 of 304 2nd St.

Thursday, December 02, 1999

Ricky Smith, 53 of 304 2nd St. SW, remains in the Austin Medical Center’s stress center, following an incident at his residence Wednesday, where handguns were discharged in the home.

According to an Austin Police Department report, the emotionally distraught man fired two handguns, at least 15 times in the residence shortly before officers arrived at 11:43 p.m. Wednesday.

Shell casings from a .22 caliber handgun and a .357 magnum handgun were found inside the residence and bullet holes observed in walls, ceilings and floors.

The handguns were retrieved from a briefcase on a bed in a bedroom after Smith told officers where to find them and admitted firing the weapons.

Other weapons were noticed in a locked gun cabinet.

According to the police report, Smith appeared very "paranoid" when answering officers’ questions.

His wife and a daughter moved from the residence some time ago and he lived there with an adult-aged son, who also told officers the man experienced mood swings.

He will be held in the stress center for 72 hours of observation and then faces charges for discharging the weapons.

No injuries were reported. At the time the weapons were discharged Wednesday night, Smith was home alone.