Man shot while vandalizing neighbor’s home

An Eastman woman shot a neighbor Monday evening while trying to scare him away as he smashed more than a dozen windows at her home, authorities said.

A police dog later found Harvey Townsend, 53, in a nearby wooded area with a gunshot wound to the left abdomen, Crawford County Sheriff Jerry Moran said today.
“I can only think of what would have happened if we had not found him,” he said.

Townsend was in fair condition today in the intensive care unit at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center.

Townsend reportedly used a steel fence post to smash 16 windows at his neighbor’s home about 6:15 p.m. Monday, Moran said.

The 54-year-old told authorities she shot warning rounds from a .22 caliber pistol and didn’t intend to hit Townsend, Moran said.

“I don’t expect she will be charged, but the final decision is that of the (district attorney),” he said.

Townsend may have caused the damage because the woman was not interested in having a romantic relationship, Moran said, adding Townsend was under the influence of alcohol when found Monday.

This was the first incident between the neighbors.

The incident remains under investigation, as police need to speak with Townsend before it can be completed, Moran said.

Townsend could face charges of disorderly conduct and criminal damage to property, Moran said.

Click to expand...