Eviction situation at El Paso County home escalates to shots fired, court documents show
A man suspected of shooting at his landlord during an altercation over his eviction at an El Paso County home this month allegedly told deputies that he was upset that the bullets missed their intended target, court documents show.
El Paso County sheriff’s deputies arrested James McNames, 68, in connection with the shooting after they spoke with the two landlords and were shown a video of him allegedly saying he was going to “blow” one of the landlord’s “(expletive) head off,” according to his arrest affidavit.
Deputies arrived at the home north of Peterson Space Force Base in Cimarron Hills around 4:15 p.m. Oct. 13 and found the landlords outside with the suspect still inside.
A few minutes after the video was taken, one of the landlords told deputies that McNames pulled a gun on her in the kitchen after returning from his room in the basement. The woman said McNames fired two shots at her while she ducked under the kitchen table.
She was not injured in the incident.
The landlord reportedly rushed outside to safety and waited for law enforcement to arrive while McNames stayed inside.
Deputies responded and set up a containment zone, and McNames exited the front door of the residence with his hands up a few minutes later.
According to the affidavit, McNames allegedly told deputies that the only thing he was upset about was that he missed, complaining “multiple times” about the landlord and her actions against him.
“God, I can’t believe I missed. … I’m so sorry that I missed, I really, really am,” he allegedly told deputies.
Jail records show McNames is being held at the El Paso County jail on a $25,000 bond.
He is charged with attempted second-degree murder, attempted first-degree assault, reckless endangerment and a felony and misdemeanor count of menacing, according to the affidavit.





