Fashion Island mall gunman was 'venting' police say [View all]

[ellisonz]

Photo: Marcos Gurrola, 42, is accused of firing a semiautomatic handgun dozens of times into the air in a Fashion Island parking lot before he was taken into custody. Credit: Newport Beach Police Department / Dec. 16, 2012
December 16, 2012 | 7:48 pm
--Kate Mather and Jill Cowan in Newport Beach

The gunman who fired more than 50 rounds at busy Fashion Island shopping center in Newport Beach decided that "this was his way of venting his life problems," police said Sunday.

Marcos Gurrola, 42, is accused of firing a semiautomatic handgun dozens of times into the air before he was taken into custody, authorities said. No one was wounded in the shooting, although one person was injured fleeing to safety.

"Thank God he pointed up," Deputy Newport Beach Police Chief David McGill said. "Luck was on our side."

As investigators worked to determine a motive, McGill characterized Gurrola as someone who was "unhappy about a lot in life and decided this was his best way of releasing his tension."

More: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/12/alleged-fashion-island-mall-gunman-was-venting-police-say.html