School Evacuated After Man Uses Gun To Relieve Stress

An 89-year-old Valley man caused the partial evacuation of University High School Friday when he went out into his front yard across the street from the school and began firing a handgun.

Spokane County sheriff’s deputies arrested Joseph H. Cooley of East 10115 Ninth for aiming and discharging a firearm in a no shooting zone.

Cooley told a deputy that he was under stress and felt better after firing nine bullets from a .22-caliber handgun into his lawn. A janitor at the high school heard the shots and notified the sheriff’s department.

Students were moved out of classrooms that faced Cooley’s home until deputies arrived. , DataTimes