A Twentynine Palms Marine who thought it would be fun to go shooting a rifle and shotgun in the desert east of Twentynine Palms shortly before 3 a.m. Wednesday morning was arrested at gunpoint, accused of driving under the influence. According to a Sheriff’s report, residents called 911 when they heard about a dozen shots fired from a high-powered rifle and shotgun near Baylis Road, south of Highway 62; responding deputies also heard about 3 more shots. The deputies waited with their vehicle lights out alongside the highway until the shooter, identified as Noel Rodriguez, 21, a sergeant and infantryman with 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, drove out of the desert where he had been firing a .30-06 rifle and a 12-gauge pump shotgun at trash littering the desert. Rodriguez was taken out of his car at gunpoint. When deputies realized Rodriguez was allegedly shooting weapons while under the influence, he was given a field sobriety test. Noel Rodriguez was arrested for investigation of driving under the influence of alcohol, booked at the Morongo Basin Jail, and released.
