The man accused of shooting a fellow worker Monday evening at a local horse-training facility says he acted in self-defense.
Charles Wolcott, 51, was upgraded Tuesday evening from critical to serious-but-stable condition after being shot in the stomach by 56-year-old Richard Velas.
Floyd County Prosecutor Keith Henderson said Velas has not been arrested or charged with a crime, and Floyd County Sheriff Darrell Mills said it’s possible the shooting was provoked when Wolcott allegedly attacked Velas with a hammer.
While tending to horses at the training facility Tuesday afternoon, Velas said he fired the shots in self-defense, but declined to provide any more details about the argument between the two. He said he was “worried” about Wolcott, but that he didn’t consider him to be a friend.
“I just always left him alone,” Velas said.
As of Tuesday morning, Floyd County police said they had been unable to speak with Wolcott because of his injuries.
Police say the shooting occurred about 6:30 p.m. Monday at the Glenwood Training Center along Ind. 111 near the Clark-Floyd county line. Velas was reportedly living at a residence on the property while Wolcott — whose permanent address is Bennettsville Road in Borden — was temporarily living with his girlfriend in a home adjacent to the facility.
Velas allegedly fired two shots at Wolcott from a rare .36 caliber black-powder six-shot revolver, a gun Mills said police “weren’t really used to dealing with.”
A friend of Velas’ — who declined to give his name but was caring for two of his own horses at Glenwood Tuesday afternoon — said Velas “felt really bad” about the shooting and described him as a “passive man who avoided confrontation.”
Floyd County
Floyd County shooter says he acted in self-defense
- Floyd County
-
-
Georgetown spelunker died of self-inflicted gunshot
Crawford County Coroner Chris Brown said he agreed with the pathologist’s finding that Eve died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to a statement released Tuesday morning by the Department of Natural Resources.
-
Greenville town manager hired, incensing silenced crowd
Richardson threatened to have the town marshal clear the gym, but decided against it.
“I am asking people out there to stay out of it. This has nothing to do with you. You elected us to represent you.”
But that only go the crowd more incensed.
“You ought to be run out of town Talbotte,” yelled one resident. -
New Albany council opposes two low-income developments
Councilman Greg Phipps said the measure was changed because there could be “some legal issues” with the way it was originally written. He said regardless, such a resolution that targets low-income developments intimates underlying stereotypes to the community even if it’s not the intention of those who supported the measure.
- News and Tribune briefs for Feb. 7, 2012
-
Students get time out for good behavior
-
Student sues to wear breast cancer bracelet
An Indiana eighth-grader sued his school district in federal court Monday for the right to wear a bracelet promoting breast cancer awareness with the message “I (heart) Boobies.”
-
New Albany house destroyed by fire
The fire department arrived within six minutes, but the fire had already made its way out of the garage and across the attic. The homeowners heard explosions from the garage area.
-
Body found in cave may be missing Georgetown man
Conservation Officer Jeff Milner said they believe it is Eve based on evidence found at the scene.
-
Council considers opposing low-income developments
Councilman John Gonder said he supports a system that would allow the city to cap sewer credits for low-income housing and give preference to the New Albany Housing Authority.
He conceded his wife does sit on the housing authority board, but believes the city should give favor to the entity when it comes to low-income lodging because it has to meet federal guidelines. - News and Tribune briefs for Feb. 6, 2012
- More Floyd County Headlines
-
