911 tapes show pride, then fear during shooting
TACOMA – A man accused of shooting six people in the Tacoma Mall was at first boastful and calm as he spoke to dispatchers, but as he held three people hostage for almost four hours, he became more frightened and irritable, eventually breaking down in tears, 911 tapes reveal.
Dominick Sergio Maldonado, 20, who police say was armed with an assault rifle and a machine pistol, is being held on $2 million bail after pleading not guilty to charges of assault, kidnapping and illegal firearms possession.
He is to be arraigned Thursday on new and enhanced counts, based on interviews in the case, said Pierce County Deputy Prosecutor Philip Sorenson. Sorenson would not detail the new charges.
Maldonado’s attorney, Sverre Staurset, said he expects prosecutors to upgrade an assault charge to attempted murder in the shooting of Dan McKown, the most seriously injured of six victims.
In 911 tapes released Thursday and obtained by The News Tribune of Tacoma, Maldonado calmly identified himself and described to dispatchers the weapons he’s accused of using in the Nov. 20 shootings.
His first call came moments before shooting began at the mall.
Dispatcher: 911. What are you reporting?
Caller: Ah, yes, I am a gentleman. I currently own a M18 90 Chinese-made assault rifle, and I also have in my possession a Intertech Tec-9.
Dispatcher: What is it we can do for you here at 911?
Caller: Oh, I am just alerting you that I am about to start shooting right now.
Dispatcher: Where are you located? Sir, where are you located?
Caller: Follow the screams.
Maldonado is calling from a cell phone, and as the dispatcher tries to find out where he’s calling from, the young man answers only with, “Follow the screams.”
The tapes also include calls from witnesses who called to report the chaos that erupted at the mall as the gunman marched down a mall corridor while firing an assault rifle and machine pistol.
One caller says he saw a “kid” who “threw his trench coat off. He had a machine gun, an AK, like a rifle, a semiautomatic rifle, just started shooting.”
Dispatcher: Was he shooting anyone specific?
Caller: He’s just shooting random.
Maldonado calls again after slipping inside a Sam Goody record store, where he’s heard ordering the hostages to build a barricade.
He then asks to speak with a negotiator.
Dispatcher: I will get you someone to talk to. Has anyone been injured?
Maldonado: Yes, I’ve injured several people. Hey, this shelf all the way back. I see it’s on wheels. I’m pretty sure you can move it. Pull the brake.
Dispatcher: OK, can I have your name?
Maldonado: My name is Dominick Sergio Maldonado. I was born on 9/22/85. Any other information? My Social Security number is (withheld).
Two gunshots are fired, and Maldonado says, “I believe some people in the mall might need medical assistance. You might want to get an EMT out here. Thanks.”
According to prosecutors, Maldonado denied intending to actually shoot anyone but was trying to draw media attention. Court documents say he told detectives he had been humiliated during a difficult childhood and that recent problems made him want to be “heard.”
He spoke of his troubled past when the dispatcher asked why he’d started shooting.
“Oh, about 10 years ago some of your fine Lakewood Police Department people took me to a camp as a kind of a slut, you know kind for the good kids who get to go and they (expletive) me up, so I am going to blame all that (expletive) on them. Along with the rest of my life, I couldn’t really say too much.”
Maldonado continues talking to the dispatchers, explaining that he has three hostages, none of whom are injured. He describes the store he’s in and can be heard ordering the hostages to build a barricade. He continues to ask for a negotiator.
“You have my number. You contact me as quickly as you can,” he says.
At one point, hostage James Black is allowed to call 911, explaining that there are actually four hostages, including a 10-year-old.
He assures dispatchers that everyone is OK and relays a message from Maldonado.
“The guy told me to call and let you guys know that as long as you guys play by the rules, he’ll play by the rules,” Black says.
Black tells the dispatcher Maldonado has two guns. He also answers yes-and-no questions about the gunman’s description. At one point, a supervisor gets on the line.
Black tells the supervisor that Maldonado isn’t threatening to harm them, but he won’t allow them to leave.
Black mentions seeing activity at the Disney Store across from Sam Goody.
“There’s somebody over there, and I want them to get the (expletive) out of there. They need to get the hell out of that store, now,” Black says.
“I don’t want them to end my life,” he tells the supervisor.
The call is disconnected, but Black calls twice more.
He asks that authorities get a direct line established to the store, and he tells the dispatcher that Maldonado has released the 10-year-old but he is becoming agitated and wants lights outside the store turned on
Black says Maldonado is “being very nice.”
“He just wants to talk to these officers that he’d already made statements about talking to,” Black says.
After a long pause, Black says, “He wants it peaceful, OK?” then tells dispatch that Maldonado wants to give up. “He wants to talk to somebody.”
Maldonado then gets on the phone and asks to talk to a negotiator. He’s heard talking, but it’s inaudible, then Black is on the phone, telling the dispatcher everything is fine.
“There hasn’t been any shooting. Everything’s done,” Black says. “I got the weapons away from him.”
The dispatcher talks again to Maldonado, who appears to begin crying as he apologizes to the hostages.
He says the guns have been disarmed and are at the back of the store, and they are walking out the front. He’s hesitant to let the hostages go ahead of him. “No, I want them to go out with me. They’re going to tackle me.”
At the dispatch center, Detective Ray Shavari gets on the phone. Maldonado again asks for reassurance.
“Please tell them I want to go peacefully, please.”
Shavari: OK. Make sure you are by yourself, OK? Stay away from all those hostages. Do not get mingled with them. Put your hands up in the air as you are walking out.
Maldonado: I have both hands in the air. No, can you tell them I don’t want to lay down, please? Please.
Shavari: You need to lay down sir.
Maldonado: Please.
Shavari: Sir? They are not going to hurt you, OK? They’re not going to hurt you, OK? You need to lay down.
Maldonado: OK, I’m getting off. I’m getting off the phone.
Shavari: OK, get off the phone. All right.
Maldonado: Bye.