Santa Barbara couple accidentally fire gun in Motel 6

An illegal AK-47 was among the five guns and 500 rounds of ammunition found this weekend in a Motel 6 room, according to a Porterville Police Department press release.

A Santa Barbara couple was in the motel room, located at 935 W. Morton Ave. and accidentally fired a shot that alerted authorities to the scene.

Convicted felon Timothy James O’Brien, 26, is now being held without bail and Blue Herrick Major, 22, is being held in lieu of $50,000 bail. Both are facing a variety of weapons charges, including being under the influence of drugs when the incident occurred.

According to the PPD, at 2:30 a.m. Saturday, Porterville police responded to the motel regarding shots fired inside one of the rooms. When they arrived, they spoke to witnesses who led them to the room O’Brien and Major were staying in.

The officers were able to get the suspects to exit the room, detained them and obtained a search warrant.

Their subsequent search revealed the loaded guns — one of which is believed to be stolen — and the ammunition, the PPD reports.

They also learned that the shot was an accidental discharge. No one was injured.

O’Brien was on active state parole and his parole status was revoked by a parole agent. He was booked into the Tulare County Main Jail on suspicion of felony weapons violations, felon in possession of a firearm, reckless discharge of a firearm and being under the influence of a controlled substance while in possession of a firearm.  

Major was booked into the Tulare County Sheriff’s Department Bob Wiley Detention Facility on suspicion of illegal weapons violations and being under the influence of a controlled substance while in possession of a firearm.

Contact The Recorder newsroom at 784-5000, Ext. 1050.