SAN DIEGO (CNS) - A man accused of carrying out a shooting rampage at his home, leaving his mother wounded and two other people dead, pleaded not guilty Friday to murder and attempted murder charges.
William Bushey, 60, allegedly shot the victims shortly before 4 p.m. Wednesday at the house he shares with his mother in the 3600 block of Zola Street, a block from Point Loma High School, according to the San Diego Police Department.
Officers responding to the shooting scene found Bushey in front of the residence with a shotgun nearby, SDPD Lt. Jud Campbell said.
Bushey's 85-year-old mother was found wounded, while a woman believed to be in her 60s and a man approximately in his 30s died at the scene.
A criminal complaint identified the deceased victims as Laurie Robinson and Brett Robinson. Police said Bushey's mother sustained serious injuries, but was expected to survive.
Officials have not identified the relationships between Bushey and the deceased victims.
On Thursday, 10News spoke with a close friend of the woman who died, who shared that Bushey and the victims are related. She said her friend feared Bushey could be dangerous and had even removed weapons from the home.
“She and her mother brought guns to my house because they were afraid Billy was going to do something,” she said tearfully.
On Thursday, SDPD confirmed the family had previously called police with concerns about Bushey's behavior — one call on Friday, Aug. 16, and another on Monday, Aug. 19.
“There was mention of concern about weapons. Based on the body-worn camera footage that I watched, it was actually determined to be a BB gun or a pellet gun rifle that they had actually moved out of the house and into the car,” SDPD Capt. Matt Dobbs said.
SDPD said the family did not formally request officers to take custody of any weapons, but the family had tried to hide knives from Bushey.
Police said while they were at their home, they determined: “He did not meet the criteria for an emergency psychiatric hold, so they left, leaving the family with resources.”
SDPD explained that criteria would be a person being an immediate danger to themselves or others.
The complaint, which alleges a shotgun was used in the shooting, also charges Bushey with special circumstance allegations of committing multiple murders, meaning he faces life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted.
He remains in custody without bail following Friday afternoon's arraignment.
