Deputies shot and wounded a bystander after they mistook his cellphone for a gun Friday during what authorities described as a chaotic scene with a gunman firing dozens of gunshots into a neighbor’s Rancho Cordova home.

The confusion began when neighbors reported hearing dozens of gunshots being fired on Negrara Way, said Sgt. Jason Ramos of the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department.

When deputies arrived, they heard the gunshots coming from between two homes. Deputies saw several rounds strike the lawn of a home. Another home was riddled with gunshots, killing a dog inside.

As deputies worked to established a perimeter, the gunman, identified as Ben Ledford, walked out of his home, threw down his assault rifle, dropped to the ground and surrendered to authorities, he said.


“It was a pretty chaotic situation out there,” Ramos said.

As deputies tried to determine whether Ledford was exchanging gunfire with other neighbors, they saw the bystander kneeling in his garage and thought he was pointing a gun, Ramos said.

The bystander had his hand stretched out while he was filming deputies swarm his neighborhood, Ramos said.

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Two deputies then fired shots at the bystander, striking him once in the leg. Deputies later realized the bystander was not involved in the shooting. The deputies who fired at him have been placed on administrative leave, Ramos said.

Authorities said Ledford had problems with neighbors and fired 75 to 100 shots.

He was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, discharging his weapon and animal cruelty.

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