Austin man accused of pointing replica gun at neighbor in an alleged racial assault

AUSTIN, Minn. (KTTC) – An Austin man is facing charges after allegedly pointing a replica gun at a neighbor in an alleged racial assault and struggling with police.

John Bradley Shea, 42, faces seven felony charges for threats of violence, two accounts of displaying a replica firearm, assaulting a peace officer, assault motivated by bias, interfering with a police officer, and assault with fear of bodily harm or death.

According to the criminal complaint, on April 15, two officers of the Austin Police Department (APD) went to 11th Avenue SW for a 911 hang-up.

When the officers arrived, the victim allegedly told the officers that Shea had threatened him with a gun, and he had issues with Shea for a couple of years, and the problems were escalating. The victim went on to say he was working in his backyard when Shea allegedly opened his garage door and began calling the victim racial slurs for being Mexican.

The victim told Shea that he had no time for him, “But if you’re such a man, come out of the garage and talk to me then.” According to the document, Shea allegedly pointed a gun at the victim’s face, and when he attempted to walk away, Shea pointed the gun at his face again.

According to the complaint, the victim’s family was in the backyard at the time of the incident. One family member was too scared to call 911 and instead pressed an alarm button.

Two other officers from the APD responded to Shea’s house and spoke with him. Shea told the officers that the victim was threatening him and put his hands in his pocket. The officers asked Shea to take his hands out of his pockets and when he failed to listen, one of the officers allegedly attempted to grab Shea’s hand.

Shea lunged for his front door and shut it with an officer and him on the inside. The officer allegedly attempted to subdue Shea and eventually used a stun gun on him. According to the document, the officer was left with cuts on his hands and a mark on his elbow from the struggle.

Shea was placed under arrest and taken to the Mayo Clinic Health Systems (MCHA) to be medically cleared before being taken to the Mower County Jail. During transport, Shea allegedly made racial remarks about his neighbor to the officers.

According to the complaint, a search warrant was conducted on Shea’s house, and the guns were inspected and were found to not be real guns but powered by C02 cylinders, which fire round rubber bullets similar to the size of a .45 Caliber. The guns also have no markings or indications that would show them to be fake.

The following items were also found in the home:

1. One CO2 revolver in a bedroom
2. One AR15 lower receiver kit in the basement
3. One AR barrel kit in the basement
4. Blue CO2 pistol in holster in Shea’s closet
5. Pistol case with two black C02 pistols on the closet floor
6. A C02 rifle in the closet
7. Two metal ammunition boxes containing ammunition for 9mm and .223 as well as magazines for firearms (AR and handgun)
8. Two body armor vests in the closet

Shea is currently at the Mower County Jail on a $15,000 bail with conditions or a $50,000 bail with no conditions. His next hearing is set for April 29.

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