Dateline: Secrets Uncovered on Oxygen is re-investigating the murder of Rory McGuire, who was gunned down in a vigilante attack by Gregory “Chad” Wallin-Reed following a car chase near Antelope Lake in Plumas National Forest in northern California.
In July 2011, McGuire and five of his buddies, Justin Smyth, Robert Osornio, John and Tommy Chanley, and Joe Crawford, were looking for a party near Antelope Lake when they came across Wallin-Reed’s property.
The young men ignored Wallin-Reed’s signs to keep out and stole a sign and a solar light before heading home.
The following night, McGuire was driving again when the six men were back in the area. Once again, they stole a solar light, but this time, Wallin-Reed saw them and fired shots with his AR-15.
The six men fled the scene but were followed by Wallin-Reed. The killer pursued McGuire’s car for eight miles, occasionally firing shots at them.
McGuire missed a turn and drove onto a dirt road in a meadow. He turned the car around and started heading back toward Wallin-Reed in his vehicle.
Wallin-Reed opened fire on the car, hitting McGuire in the head and two others in the leg. The 20-year-old McGuire died two days later.
Watch the Latest on our YouTube ChannelChad Wallin-Reed fired multiple rounds at fleeing Rory McGuire and his friends
Wallin-Reed had fired 26 bullets into McGuire’s car. The investigators found a total of 12 cartridges from an assault rifle and seven from a handgun.
The killer admitted to shooting at “the kids” and that he suspected he had killed one of them but claimed he had only been defending his family and his property, and he insisted the men had fired at him and his home. However, the investigators were satisfied that McGuire and his friends did not have any firearms.
Prosecutors argued that any danger to Wallin-Reed’s family or property had long ceased by the time he decided to pursue the men in his vehicle.
The group had even waved a white shirt out of their car window to signal their surrender, but Wallin-Reed kept firing.
One of the signs on Wallin-Reed’s property had read, “This is a restricted area. Only red-blooded Christian Americans are authorized for access upon approval and verification of credentials by the commanding authority. The use of deadly force is authorized for use of those found in noncompliance with above.”
The sign was titled “Warning. You are entering the R.O.C.” The R.O.C. reportedly stood for the Republic of Chad.
Chad Wallin-Reed convicted of Rory McGuire murder
Unfortunately, for Wallin-Reed, his sign did not give him the right to commit murder. A jury found him guilty of first-degree murder and five counts of assault with a deadly weapon. He was sentenced to over 80 years in prison.
After the shooter was found guilty, McGuire’s mother, Carol Starzer, said, “Everything seems a little brighter. … I feel like justice was served.”
This two-part episode of Dateline: Uncovered airs Tuesday at 7/6c on Oxygen.
I’m glad Chad Reed was found guilty. The idea that this army ranger needed to kill any of these young people to protect his family and property is preposterous. He lied – which I think means he knows he was wrong. And he was. Had he shot while they were on his property, I may feel differently but 8 miles away? No he was wrong and he knows it
And on the Dateline episode, they found that this shooter wasn’t even in the Rangers and never served overseas!!😡