Man carrying ammunition shot traffic light in Westwood, UCLA police say
Authorities say the 52-year-old now in custody had more than 10,000 rounds of ammo in his van and storage locker, as well as timers and other suspicious materials in his briefcase.
A 52-year-old man was being held without bail today on suspicion of shooting at a traffic light in Westwood and carrying more than 10,000 rounds of ammunition in his van and storage locker late last week.
Gene Bush allegedly began firing at a traffic light at the intersection of Broxton and Le Conte avenues shortly before midnight Thursday.
UCLA campus police responding to the shooting reported that they found Bush on the sidewalk, empty-handed but wearing a holster.
They said that when they ordered him, at gunpoint, to get on the ground, he responded: "Not until everyone else gets here."
At that point, an officer incapacitated Bush with a Taser and he was handcuffed. He is being held in Los Angeles County Jail.
Authorities said Bush was carrying five loaded semiautomatic pistols equipped with laser sites. In all, UCLA police said, they recovered 400 bullets from Bush. They believe Bush had fired and hit the traffic light once and a nearby building once. Witnesses told campus police he had fired three times.
According to a news release issued by campus police, once in custody Bush made anti-government statements and told officers to look in his briefcase for "the secret."
In the briefcase, officers said, they found timers and cans of paint thinner as well as other materials they called suspicious in nature. They also recovered what they described as a manifesto titled "The Secret."
At that time, UCLA officers called the Los Angeles Police Department's bomb squad for assistance.
Authorities said that an additional 7,800 rounds were found in Bush's nearby van and 3,000 rounds were recovered from his storage locker.
Campus police said they did not believe that Bush had a criminal history. They said he appeared to be living out of his van.
No one was hurt in the incident.
jason.song@latimes.com
