Court records: alleged shooting threat at Farmington store leads to arraignment

A Flora Vista man is scheduled to be arraigned today in Farmington Magistrate Court after police say multiple customers and employees reported feeling threatened during an incident at a local sporting goods store, according to court records.

James Duncan Peeples, 82, is charged with making a shooting threat, assault, and disorderly conduct in connection with an encounter reported Dec. 11, 2025, at Sportsman’s Warehouse in Farmington.

Court filings show the charges stem from a series of interactions that allegedly escalated inside the store and later outside the business.

Incident inside the store

According to a statement of probable cause, Farmington police were dispatched to Sportsman’s Warehouse on East Main Street after store management reported a possible assault and threatening behavior involving a customer.

The store manager told officers that Peeples entered the store with questions about an online order. When employees were unable to immediately locate the order, the manager said Peeples became increasingly upset while staff attempted to assist him.

Court records state Peeples left the store briefly and later returned carrying printed documents related to the order, as well as images of items the store does not sell. The manager reported that Peeples placed the documents on the counter, accused an employee of stealing from him, and demanded a refund.

Investigators wrote that Peeples allegedly became visibly agitated, stepped close to the manager’s face multiple times, and continued yelling while customers were inside the store. The manager reported backing away as Peeples advanced, placing a hand on Peeples’ chest at one point to create distance.

Threats reported as customers leave

Court documents state that as customers began leaving the store due to the disturbance, Peeples allegedly turned toward the exit and made statements about getting a lawyer and returning with a gun, while making a hand gesture described as mimicking a firearm.

The manager told police he followed Peeples at a distance as he exited the store to ensure he was not retrieving a weapon. Peeples was observed getting into a vehicle and leaving the area.

Another customer who witnessed the incident later reported briefly following Peeples’ vehicle out of concern that he might return with a firearm. Store employees told officers they were shaken by the incident and feared he might come back.

Police later contacted Peeples by phone, according to court records. Investigators wrote that Peeples acknowledged being upset but denied making a firearm-related threat. He was subsequently issued a criminal summons.

Court records show Peeples is charged with making a shooting threat, assault, and disorderly conduct. An arraignment is scheduled today in Farmington Magistrate Court.

Peeples is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

Related:
A separate Farmington felony case involving theft and burglary charges was also filed this month in San Juan County court.
👉 https://sanjuanpulse.com/2026/01/26/farmington-felony-theft-burglary-booking-012626/