The Mohave County Sheriff's Office in Arizona recently arrested 66-year-old Danny Eugene Button for shooting at a group of kayakers.
It happened on Feb. 4. Deputies responded to the Burro Creek Campgrounds at Highway 93 and Burro Creek Crossing Road regarding the shooting.
Upon arrival, deputies contacted two male victims. The victims said that they were in a group of 4 friends from Flagstaff kayaking down Burro Creek. The victims further said that they were about a mile downstream from the campgrounds when they heard a gunshot and observed an elderly man standing on the bank of the river with a large silver gun.
The victims reported the man, later identified as Button, fired 4 more rounds and one of the rounds impacted the water near their lead kayaker who began paddling extremely fast and got away while Button ordered the remaining three kayakers out of the water at gun point.
The victims pleaded with Button to be released to go find their friend as he may be injured. Button continued to hold them at gunpoint and told them that they were on his private property.
Eventually, Button told the three kayakers to grab their boats and to get walking back to the campgrounds because they were on his property.
Deputies located the third kayaker a short ways down the road at a landing waiting for the fourth kayaker who hadn’t returned. Search and Rescue members responded and initiated a search of the missing kayaker.
About 10 p.m., deputies identified the suspect to be Button. Button was located at his property and taken into custody without incident at approximately 10:45 p.m. Button’s .45 caliber Ruger revolver was taken and placed into evidence.
During conversations with Button, he said that he was targeting shooting on his property. Further conversations with Button, he said the kayakers were trespassing. Button was transported and booked into the Mohave County Jail.
Search and Rescue members located the fourth kayaker, a 47-year-old victim, in good health Sunday morning at about 10:30 a.m. approximately 7-8 miles south of Burro Creek Campgrounds.
The victim reported that he heard a couple shots before he realized that he was being shot at while kayaking.
The victim further reported that he purposely rolled his kayak upside down in the water as he was being shot at.
The victim said that he stayed upside down as long as possible before he rolled back up and heard a male subject say this one is not going to miss.
The victim further said that he paddled as fast as he could to escape.
Apparently the victim continued onto the group’s planned destination, but he advised that he didn’t make it before darkness so he ended up camping and hiding out.
Button is facing multiple charges, including kidnapping, aggravated assault with deadly weapon and endangerment.
Deputies confirmed that property owners do not have the rights to the waterways. Approximately 30 Search and Rescue members assisted while the Department of Public Safety Kingman Ranger assisted on Saturday and DPS Flagstaff Ranger assisted on Sunday.
