85-year-old shoots at city work crew

[A-R]

Feel a bit sorry for this old-timer, probably lives alone, no family around, was confused and scared when he saw a group of men near his property. OBVIOUSLY he over-reacted and the arrest and charges are very justified - you can't just go off shooting into a clump of trees like that. But, still feel sorry for anyone living alone like that at his age. Glad my grandparents all had family/friends nearby in their later years.

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LAW ENFORCEMENT

Police: 85-year-old shoots at work crew
Man charged with seven counts of aggravated assault.
By Isadora Vail

AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF


Wednesday, September 16, 2009

An 85-year-old man was in custody Tuesday after police said he fired several shots toward seven workers who were clearing brush near his property in Northwest Austin.

The seven men, none of whom was injured, were working for Piatra Inc., which the City of Austin hired to help clear brush Sunday in the 7000 block of RM 2222, the affidavit says.

Henry Ralph Schots heard the workers and thought they were trespassing, according to the document. He fired three shots from a .22-caliber semi-automatic handgun toward the brush where the workers were, it says.

After looking through binoculars, Schots fired five more shots at the workers before they called police, the affidavit says. The workers reported that some of the rounds struck near them.

The workers left the scene and met police nearby. Schots followed the workers in his vehicle; when police questioned him, they found the gun underneath the seat, the affidavit says.

Schots told police that he had fired three warning shots into the woods and that he thought they were trespassing on his property, the affidavit says.

He remained in the Travis County Jail on Tuesday, charged with seven felony counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He could face up to life in prison if convicted on each count.

ivail@statesman.com; 445-3763

[seamusTX]

Paranoia is a common symptom of Alzheimer's disease. I hope the judge orders a psych exam to see if that is the case.

- Jim