The investigation continues into an incident involving an individual discharging a firearm into the air more than a dozen times outside of an Uptown restaurant on Feb. 27.
“We’re in the process of confirming the identify of the person involved,” Sgt. Michael Dominguez of the Sedona Police Department said.
According to police, they received a call of shots fired at 9:48 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 27, in the area near Sound Bites Grill and the Hyatt Piñon Pointe resort. A police report states that upon arrival an empty magazine from a 9 mm semi-automatic handgun was located by Hyatt security near the main entrance. Upon further inspection, 13 9 mm shell casings were found in the roadway between Sound Bites and the Hyatt’s main lobby.
Based on eyewitness accounts, the police department have a person of interest in the shooting — 42-year-old Edward Laverne Kayer of Carefree. A witness told police on the night of the incident that they were “90% sure” Kayer was the one who fired multiple gunshots into the air in an unknown direction.
“There were multiple resort guests and restaurant patrons standing outside when the shots were fired,” a police report states.
It also states that Kayer and another male were dining at Sound Bites with two female companions. A witness reported that Kayer and the other male later engaged in an argument in which a firearm was produced.
All subjects were gone from the area prior to arrival by police.
Dominguez said police are collecting video evidence from Sounds Bites’ interior and exterior cameras. He’s also been interviewing witnesses.
The police report states that upon further investigation it was determined that Kayer is prohibited from possessing firearms due to felony convictions.
News stories from 2001 show that at the age of 22, Kayer pled guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to 15 years in prison for the shooting death of a 28-year-old male while living in Oregon. Dominguez confirmed that Kayer is the same person of interest.
If arrested for the Sedona shooting, Kayer faces two charges, Dominguez said, including a felony under what’s known as Shannon’s Law.
Arizona Revised Statute §13-3107 prohibits the unlawful discharge of a firearm. The law states that it is a Class 6 felony to discharge a firearm with criminal negligence within the limits of any municipality in Arizona and one mile from any occupied structure. Criminal negligence means with a wanton disregard to foreseeable risks to others. If a reasonable person would not have discharged the firearm due to a perceived gross deviation from the standard of care, a defendant may be guilty of criminal negligence.
The law received its name following a tragedy involving the death of 14-year-old Shannon Smith, who was living in Phoenix in 1999 when a stray bullet struck and killed her.
After learning the perpetrator would only face a misdemeanor charge at most for the unlawful discharge of a firearm, Smith’s parents fought for stronger laws. The passing of Shannon’s Law made this offense a felony.
Anyone who may have witnessed this incident is asked to contact Dominguez at 282-3100.
