header image

[Sign Up Now] to Receive Our FREE Daily SCVTV-SCVNews Digest by E-Mail

Inside
Weather


 
Calendar
Today in
S.C.V. History
December 25
1852 - Acton gold mine owner & California Gov. Henry Tifft Gage born in New York [story]
Henry Gage


| Wednesday, Jul 31, 2019
oak tree gun club
Oak Tree Gun Club. | File photo: Austin Dave/The Signal.

 

Celebrated Hollywood stuntman Alex Schoenauer has filed a lawsuit against the Oak Tree Gun Club and others, alleging he was shot in the back with a semiautomatic assault rifle while auditioning for a stuntman role.

Gun club officials were expected Tuesday to return email and phone messages left for them by The Signal. “(The manager) is going through all the emails,” said a man who answered the phone at the gun club Tuesday and who asked that all queries be sent via email.

The shooting happened Sept. 26, 2018, shortly before 4:30 p.m., at the gun club in Newhall, on Coltane Avenue, along Interstate 5.

The injured man, who was not identified at the time of the shooting, was taken to the hospital with injuries described on the day of the shooting by Lt. Ignacio Somoano with the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station as “non-life-threatening.”

In a lawsuit filed July 9 with the Los Angeles Superior Court, Schoenauer names others in the suit that include: JMP Productions Inc., which produces the TV shows “Seal Team” and “SWAT,” the show’s producer Julie Michaels, stuntwoman Corinne Van Ryck de Groot and David Allen Shaw Jr., a certified firearms instructor.

Schoenauer and de Groot were at the gun club auditioning for a role on the TV shows, the lawsuit alleges.

The two were sent by Michaels, to Shaw, who, according to the suit, has routinely worked with Michaels in auditioning and training prospective stunt people.

According to Schoenauer, Shaw was authorized to conduct training at the Oak Tree Gun Club.

Shaw and others staged an action scene at the Oak Tree Gun Club for Schoenauer and de Groot, the suit alleges.

The scene required Schoenauer to burst through a doorway with de Groot right behind him.

As they did this, they were both to be gripping semiautomatic assault rifles provided by Shaw and others.

“Per Mr. Shaw’s arrangement, both rifles were loaded with live ammunition,” the lawsuit states.

As Schoenauer burst through the doorway, de Groot shot him from behind, according to the lawsuit.

The bullet entered Schoenauer’s upper back and exited his upper arm and shoulder.

Paramedics with the Los Angeles County Fire Department treated the injured man at the scene and then took him to the hospital, Fire Department Supervisor Imy McBride said on the day of the shooting.

As a stuntman, Schoenauer has worked on films that include the “Transformers” movies “Bumblebee,” “The Last Knight” and “Age of Extinction.”

He’s also done stunt work in “Star Trek Beyond,” “Identity Crisis” and “Fast Five,” the fifth installment of the “Fast & Furious” movie franchise.

Comment On This Story
COMMENT POLICY: We welcome comments from individuals and businesses. All comments are moderated. Comments are subject to rejection if they are vulgar, combative, or in poor taste.
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.

5 Comments

  1. Gordon Harvey says:

    The tag line is misleading. He was not actually auditioning but training for and preparing for the audition.

    “They were doing some training that was way above their skill set with an unqualified instructor and got shot in the back. Totally unnecessary accident that shouldn’t have happened.”

    The instructor was at fault for using live ammunition during the action “scene” training. Both stunt performers were also equally at fault for allowing the live ammunition. Should have known better.

  2. Roger says:

    It doesn’t make sense that an experienced instructor would have actors practice with live ammo when they will be using blanks in the real shoot.
    That would be a serious lack of judgement on the instructor’s part. So serious I would question that it happened.
    I would wonder is someone made a change like as what killed Bruce Lee when someone changed blanks for live ammo.

  3. Byron says:

    I cannot WAIT to find out why they were using LIVE ammunition…

    Were they auditioning for a real-life assault team, or a TV show? Last time I checked, there is a small difference…

  4. Paul says:

    Live ammunition is NEVER used in movies, EVER. The instructor who allowed or chose to allow live ammunition is definitely at fault. The stuntmen are also at fault for allowing this to happen. The only training with live ammunition is in the military. NEVER in movies whether for training or filming. This is against the strict rules of filming.

    • Paul says:

      The only thing I can think of which is unacceptable is that they didn’t have access to blanks such as those used in movies and the instructor felt that it would be more real to use any type that goes bang…In this instance “live” ammunition which is beyond unsafe.

Leave a Comment


SCV NewsBreak
LOCAL NEWS HEADLINES
Wednesday, Dec 24, 2025
Barger Urges Residents to Stay Alert, Follow Evacuation Orders
Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger is urging residents to remain vigilant as a powerful storm system moves through Los Angeles County, bringing periods of heavy rain and rapidly changing conditions.
Wednesday, Dec 24, 2025
CHP Makes Multiple Arrests Made in Statewide Organized Retail Theft Investigation
Thirteen suspects were arrested, and more than $800,000 in stolen merchandise was recovered following a coordinated, multi-agency operation targeting an organized retail theft network operating across Northern California.
Wednesday, Dec 24, 2025
Dec. 27: Holiday Spice Salsa Edition at Canyon Country Community Center
The city of Santa Clarita invites the community to heat up the holiday season at the Holiday Spice Salsa Edition on Saturday, Dec. 27, at the Canyon Country Community Center, located at 18410 Sierra Highway Santa Clarita, CA 91351.
Keep Up With Our Facebook

Latest Additions to SCVNews.com
1852 - Acton gold mine owner & California Gov. Henry Tifft Gage born in New York [story]
Henry Gage
Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger is urging residents to remain vigilant as a powerful storm system moves through Los Angeles County, bringing periods of heavy rain and rapidly changing conditions.
Barger Urges Residents to Stay Alert, Follow Evacuation Orders
Thirteen suspects were arrested, and more than $800,000 in stolen merchandise was recovered following a coordinated, multi-agency operation targeting an organized retail theft network operating across Northern California.
CHP Makes Multiple Arrests Made in Statewide Organized Retail Theft Investigation
The California State Transportation Agency today announced a new joint effort by two of its departments, the Department of Motor Vehicles and California Highway Patrol, to curb excessive speeding and prevent deadly crashes.
Pilot Program to Crack Down on Extreme Speeding
The city of Santa Clarita invites the community to heat up the holiday season at the Holiday Spice Salsa Edition on Saturday, Dec. 27, at the Canyon Country Community Center, located at 18410 Sierra Highway Santa Clarita, CA 91351.
Dec. 27: Holiday Spice Salsa Edition at Canyon Country Community Center
1965 - Signal newspaper owner Scott Newhall shows up for a duel (of words) with rival Canyon Country newspaper publisher Art Evans, who no-shows and folds his paper soon after [story]
headline
As winter storms enter Los Angeles County, the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control urges pet owners to take necessary precautions in light of the significant storms expected to last for five days.
DACC Urges Pet Owners to Prioritize Safety Ahead of Storm
Brayden Miner scored 31 points and Rylan Starr had 24 as The Master's University men's basketball team crushed Bethesda University 145-59 The MacArthur Center.
Season’s Best Offensive Performance Leads TMU Over Bethesda
From surprise Santa arrivals to stacks of gifts waiting for young hands, the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clarita Valley delivered holiday cheer on a large scale this season, reaching hundreds of children and teens throughout the Santa Clarita Valley, including Clubhouses in Canyon Country, Newhall, Val Verde and Castaic.
Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clarita Valley Spreads Holiday Cheer
Princess Cruises, headquartered in Santa Clarita, embraced a cherished maritime tradition in a uniquely festive way, celebrating a symbolic christening of its Rose Parade float with a ceremonial break of a bottle of Pantalones Organic Tequila.
Princess Cruises Christens Star Princess Tournament of Roses Float
The Golden Globes have ushered in awards season with the announcement of the 2026 nominees across 28 categories. Among this year’s contenders is Pixar’s "Elio," which earned a nomination for Best Motion Picture – Animated.
CalArtian-Directed ‘Elio’ Nominated for 2026 Golden Globe
The National Weather Service has issued a "Hazardous Weather" warning for the Santa Clarita Valley and Southern California.
NWS Issues Flood, High Wind Warnings for SCV, Southland
Detectives from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Missing Persons Unit are asking for the public’s help locating at-Risk missing person Drew Barrick Russell.
LASD Asks for Help Locating Missing Santa Clarita Man
1997 - Five bodies found during grading of Northlake development in Castaic; determined to be Jenkins graveyard [story]
reburial
Old Town Newhall Public Library will host "Spice Travels," Friday, Jan. 2, 9:15-9:30 a.m. at 24500 Main St., Santa Clarita, CA 91321.
Jan. 2: Explore Global Cuisine with ‘Spice Travels ‘ at Newhall Library
The California Highway Patrol encourages the public to “brake” the habit of speeding this holiday season. The CHP will launch a Holiday Enforcement Period starting at 6:01 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 24, and ending at 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 25.
Dec. 24-25: CHP Launches Holiday Enforcement Period
Volunteers are needed to help clear brush and restore the tread from the existing lower Gates and Twister trails 8 a.m.-noon Saturday, Dec. 27.
Dec. 27: Volunteers Needed for SCV Trail Users Workday
Join InfluenceHER's "Redefining Happiness, a Candid Conversation for the Modern Woman," 4-6 p.m., Friday, Jan. 16 at the Venue Valencia.
Jan. 16: InfluenceHER- Redefining Happiness, A Candid Conversation for the Modern Woman
The Santa Clarita Public Library system has announced that all library branches will close at 1 p.m. on Christmas Eve, Wednesday, Dec. 24, and remain closed on Christmas Day, Thursday, Dec. 25, in observance of Christmas.
Santa Clarita Public Library Holiday Hours
Students pursuing an undergraduate degree in water resource-related fields are invited to apply for the 2026/27 ACWA Edward G. “Jerry” Gladbach Scholarship, offered by the Association of California Water Agencies in partnership with SCV Water. Applications are now being accepted through March 1, 2026.
SCV Water Announces 2026/27 ACWA Edward G. ‘Jerry’ Gladbach Scholarship
Chloe Auble scored a career-high 40 points and Allie Miller came a rebound away from her first career triple-double as The Master's University Women's Basketball team defeated the Bethesda Lion Angels 125-24 in the MacArthur Center.
Lady Mustangs Break Scoring Records in Win
Vallarta Food Enterprises, headquartered in Santa Clarita, has been ordered by a federal court to comply with subpoenas relating to charges of employment discrimination.
Federal Court Orders Vallarta to Comply with EEOC Subpoenas
Burrtec Waste Industries has partnered with the city of Santa Clarita to establish three convenient locations for residents to recycle real holiday trees this season.
Dec. 26-Jan. 10: Recycle Trees, Wreaths at City Drop-Off Locations
SCVNews.com