TEHACHAPI, Calif. — Almost two dozen firearms as well as ammunition and an eight-inch "bayonet" were seized from a Tehachapi man's home after he allegedly threatened to kill co-workers at a UPS facility in Mojave.
Keith Zemel is facing seven felony charges after he was arrested on June 4. He's charged with one count of assault with a semi-automatic firearm, two charges of assault with a firearm and four charges of threatening with the intent to terrorize.
Court documents obtained by 23ABC News show officers were called on Monday, June 3 after a supervisor at the UPS facility reported one of his employees was threatening other workers.
The supervisor told officers that Zemel went home from work early because he wasn't feeling well that day. Later that day, two other employees went to check on Zemel. They told police when they got there Zemel was armed with a shotgun and had a pistol in his waistband.
According to the documents, Zemel was also sending threatening text messages to other co-workers, saying he wanted to kill some of them and that he was tired of being mistreated at work.
At one point, Zemel aimed the shotgun at the visiting employees, the two told officers. They said they eventually talked Zemel down and got the guns from him. That's when they realized they were, in fact, loaded.
Investigators found that Zemel had six firearms registered in his name. Officers later got a search warrant for Zemel's property and seized 18 firearms, including rifles, shotguns and various handguns. A cache of ammunition and an eight-inch bayonet were also seized.
Zemel pleaded not guilty to the charges on Thursday, June 6. He's expected back in court on June 14.
