Paramedics responding to Oracle home not injured as man opens fire

James Evans, 59, faces numerous charges on weapons violations
Photo courtesy of Pinal County Sheriff's Office

59-year-old Oracle man surrenders to SWAT

On September 7, just before 4 p.m., paramedics responded to a home located in the 2200 block of W Ivan Street in Oracle after a woman called to report her husband had overmedicated himself with prescription drugs.

As paramedics arrived on scene, the patient, identified as James Evans, 59, became agitated, proceeded outside and fired a .223 caliber rifle approximately 11 times into the air. Evans' wife attempted to take the weapon from her husband but was unsuccessful; both went back inside the home.

Pinal County Sheriff's deputies responded as paramedics evacuated. Evans' wife left the home unharmed and informed deputies that Evans would not come out and was heavily armed.

Evans refused to speak with law enforcement for approximately two hours, but a SWAT crisis negotiator was eventually able to make contact with Evans and convinced him to surrender peacefully at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

No one was hurt during the incident. Once inside the home, PCSO deputies verified that Evans had a large stock of weapons and ammunition.

 Evans was taken to a nearby hospital where he was evaluated and properly medicated.  He was booked into the PCSO Adult Detention Center on charges of Discharge a Firearm within City Limits and Domestic Violence: Disorderly Conduct with a Weapon