Guerneville man hit in head with arrow
Suspect believed holed up in downtown attic
By LAURA NORTON
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
Published: Tuesday, January 27, 2009 at 3:19 p.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, January 27, 2009 at 3:28 p.m.
A Guerneville man sitting in a convertible car was struck in the head with an arrow Tuesday afternoon in downtown Guerneville, apparently the target of a man aiming a crossbow from his third-story condo balcony.
Sheriff?s deputies were trying to negotiate with the suspect, who was believed to be holed up in a building?s attic, Sheriff?s Capt. Matt McCaffrey said. The man is believed to be armed with firearms and possibly still the crossbow, he said.
A SWAT team was on scene at the building at Fifth and Mills streets.
It was unknown why the suspect targeted the victim, James McNeil, McCaffrey said.
McNeil, suffering from a headache but escaping major injuries, said he saw the suspect on the balcony and did not recognize him.
The shooting came as a surprise, he said.
?I was sitting with my friend in the convertible, and it came through the roof and hit me in the back of the head,? he said. ?I looked at my friend and said ?We?re being attacked. Take off!??
Neighbors surrounding the suspect's condo were being evacuated, McCaffrey said, and traffic in the area was being diverted.
He said the man could face charges ranging from assault with a deadly weapon to attempted murder.
?The likelihood if you are shooting someone in the head with a crossbow that you could kill them is good,? McCaffrey said. ?I imagine that could be charged as attempted murder.?
Suspect believed holed up in downtown attic
By LAURA NORTON
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
Published: Tuesday, January 27, 2009 at 3:19 p.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, January 27, 2009 at 3:28 p.m.
A Guerneville man sitting in a convertible car was struck in the head with an arrow Tuesday afternoon in downtown Guerneville, apparently the target of a man aiming a crossbow from his third-story condo balcony.
Sheriff?s deputies were trying to negotiate with the suspect, who was believed to be holed up in a building?s attic, Sheriff?s Capt. Matt McCaffrey said. The man is believed to be armed with firearms and possibly still the crossbow, he said.
A SWAT team was on scene at the building at Fifth and Mills streets.
It was unknown why the suspect targeted the victim, James McNeil, McCaffrey said.
McNeil, suffering from a headache but escaping major injuries, said he saw the suspect on the balcony and did not recognize him.
The shooting came as a surprise, he said.
?I was sitting with my friend in the convertible, and it came through the roof and hit me in the back of the head,? he said. ?I looked at my friend and said ?We?re being attacked. Take off!??
Neighbors surrounding the suspect's condo were being evacuated, McCaffrey said, and traffic in the area was being diverted.
He said the man could face charges ranging from assault with a deadly weapon to attempted murder.
?The likelihood if you are shooting someone in the head with a crossbow that you could kill them is good,? McCaffrey said. ?I imagine that could be charged as attempted murder.?
