The owner of a Scottsdale vape shop is accused of shooting one of his employees in the face.
On March 23, police were called to Pro Source Vapes, near Loop 101 and Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard, after receiving reports about a shooting inside.
Once authorities arrived to the store, it was discovered that the owner, 28-year-old Taylor William Eberle, had left the store to take the 22-year-old victim to a nearby hospital, court documents said.
According to police, Eberle and several of his employees (who are also friends) were at his store that night “engaging in reckless behavior – waiving [sic] and pointing their guns at each other,” a Scottsdale police spokesperson said.
After combing through video surveillance, police saw the suspect carrying a rifle without a magazine in it, court paperwork said. He pointed the rifle at two men who also pointed their pistols back at him on at least two occasions.
During the incident, the victim is seen cleaning a counter top, court documents said. Eberle loaded a rifle with a magazine and pointed the firearm at the victim.
The rifle discharged and the victim was struck the man in the right side of his face, court documents said.
By the time officers arrived, both the suspect and the victim were already gone. However, they did find blood, body tissue, broken teeth and a loaded rifle on the floor of the business.
Eberle told investigators he was attempting to remove the rifle from his shoulder when it accidentally fired a shot, court documents said.
The victim’s name hasn’t been released.
