Last Saturday in Rohnert Park, it took a disturbing turn when, according to police, a 60-year-old man climbed onto his roof, pointed a shotgun at neighbors and shouted racial slurs. Officers later served a warrant at the home and carted off multiple firearms and ammunition, and the man is now staring down weapons charges and a hate-crime allegation.
How Authorities Say It Unfolded
Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety officers were called around 8:45 AM after a 911 caller reported a man on a roof with a gun. Responding officers say they found 60-year-old Tiwart Bachir Kyorkian on top of his home, aiming a shotgun at people working in a neighboring yard while yelling profanities and racially charged remarks. He was arrested without incident, according to CBS News.
Search Warrant and Weapons Recovered
Police say Kyorkian was served with a Gun Violence Restraining Order requiring him to surrender any firearms until a hearing could be held. Investigators allege he refused to hand them over, which prompted officers to obtain a search warrant. A search of the home turned up multiple firearms and ammunition, authorities report. A separate sweep for explosives found no such materials, as reported by SFGATE.
What a Gun Violence Restraining Order Means
According to the California Courts, a Gun Violence Restraining Order is a civil order that temporarily blocks a person from owning, possessing, purchasing or receiving guns or ammunition while it is in effect. Law enforcement or certain family members can ask a judge for the order if they believe someone poses a significant danger to themselves or others. Violating the order can carry criminal penalties.
Charges and Next Steps
Kyorkian was booked into Sonoma County Jail on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, violation of civil rights as a hate crime and disobeying a court order. He also faces additional counts related to possessing an assault weapon, large-capacity magazines and a short-barreled rifle, according to CBS News. Jail records show he is being held without bail and is scheduled to appear in court on Monday.
What Comes Next
The criminal case and the Gun Violence Restraining Order will now move forward on separate tracks in Sonoma County. Prosecutors will decide what formal charges to file in the criminal matter, while a judge in the civil GVRO proceeding will determine whether the firearms stay in police custody and for how long.
