Dispute over grass trimmings escalates to shooting between neighbors, Indiana cops say
An Indiana man is accused of shooting his neighbor during a dispute over grass trimmings, court records show.
Cell phone footage from the April 21 incident shows Timothy M. Florence, of Crawfordsville, firing his handgun at his neighbor who was on a riding mower near a disputed piece of property, according to a criminal complaint.
According to court records, ownership of a strip of land had been in dispute, and an agreement to settle the issue by transferring a portion of the land was underway, but not complete.
Investigators with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department said the video, recorded by the victim’s significant other, showed the escalation of the conflict which began when Florence used a leaf blower to blow grass trimmings back onto his neighbor’s property.
In the video, Florence can be seen pointing the leaf blower directly at his neighbor, and in response, the neighbor turns the mower in Florence’s direction forcing him to “step out of the way,” authorities said.
Police said the video shows Florence then walking behind the mower, drawing his handgun, and firing it at his neighbor, according to court records.
The victim was taken to a local hospital in critical but stable condition, according to the complaint.
He had “penetrating injuries from a projectile” that hit his spleen, liver and lungs, investigators said.
Florence told officers he shot his neighbor because “feared for his life” after he said he almost hit him with the mower.
Florence was arrested April 22 on charges of attempted murder, aggravated battery, battery by means of a deadly weapon, and battery resulting in serious bodily injury, court records show.
McClatchy News reached out to Florence’s attorney for comment on April 23 but did not receive an immediate response.
Crawfordsville is about a 50-mile drive northwest of Indianapolis.
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