Man shoots neighbor, kills self, witnesses say

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TheeBadOne

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Some residents in the 2600 block of Lynn Avenue thought they heard fireworks Thursday afternoon. But those bangs turned out to be shots from a shotgun - leaving the victim hurt and the suspected shooter dead.
While police aren't releasing many details about the double shooting, most neighbors said they saw the same thing: A man apparently shot his next-door neighbor in an alley behind the house at 2613 Lynn Ave. The suspected shooter, 59-year-old Donald E. Sovine, is believed to have lived at that address having a white picket fence, green shrubs and white house with turquoise shutters. The victim, Travis Martin, 32, lived next door at 2617 Lynn.

Sovine is thought to have shot Martin once in the right arm and again in the back before turning the gun on himself - ending in his death, said neighbor Tim Pinkerton.

The Allen County coroner is expected to determine the cause of Sovine's death today. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Martin remained in fair condition this morning at a local hospital.

Pinkerton, who lives a block north on Dodge Avenue, was in his living room when he heard two shots. The noise brought him to his feet and the front door, where he saw Martin running toward him, leaving behind a trail of blood.

"I thought it was fireworks at first, but I know the sound (of a shotgun), and that's not a noise you hear in a residential area," Pinkerton said. "(The victim) said he was painting a truck for his neighbor and he said that was who had shot him." Pinkerton helped wrap towels around Martin's wounds and called 911.

In a driveway just off the alley sat a gold Chevy pickup that Karen McMeekin, an across-the-street neighbor, said belonged to Sovine.

Police confirmed an argument took place immediately before the shooting, but did not specify about what. Police spokeswoman Robin Thompson said witnesses are being interviewed about that.

Nick Bollinger, who moved into the 2600 block of Lynn two weeks ago, said he saw Sovine shoot the gun in the alley, then go back toward his house.

Laura Toam, 20, of the 2600 block of Lynn, ran out of her house after she heard the shots and saw Sovine on the ground. She said Sovine's girlfriend of about 20 years was at the scene.

McMeekin said Sovine was a "wonderful neighbor and a good friend" who helped her husband build a wheelchair ramp leading to her front door.

"He took great pride in his yard," McMeekin said. "He helped my husband mow the yard a couple of weeks ago."

http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/newssentinel/news/local/6384392.htm
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Not the kind of neighbor anyone would want! It's scary to think who may 'really' be living next door. A mowed lawn and painted house don't tell the whole tale of who's inside. These stories allways have a neighbor quoting, "He was a good man"...
 
That's not surprising, Dorian. If it was birdshot, you'd have to be pretty close for a lethal wound. Even if it's buckshot, you still have to cut a major artery or damage a vital organ enough to cause a quick death. Or cause enough shock to shut down the heart - but that's dependent on highly variable physiology and, to a certain extent, emotional makeup of the victim.

Don't get me wrong - I'm not saying that a load of 00 buck isn't a good stopper, but it's not the sure death ray that Hollywood protrays. People really don't fly across the room when hit by a shotgun blast.
 
"He took great pride in his yard..."

Sounds like some of the lawn psychos we have around here. IMHO, anyone who cares what his lawn looks like: a. doesn't have enough real, useful things to do; b. is the kind of control freak who thinks zoning laws are a positive good; c. owns a dog, puts radios in model airplanes, thinks "we did it better up north", might be a schoolteacher, female or cop (sorry, TBO;) ).-- in other words a tightarse.
 
Sorry, guys

about the intemperate tone of my last post, but I've been listening to mowers, weed whackers, leaf blowers and chain saws ALL day. (and every day) Any advice on a cartridge which'll fit in a .45 Colt chamber and reliably break the crankshaft in a leaf blower? (just kiddin;) - I think:eek: )
 
Oh, yeah, to get back on topic here;

Does anyone have more info on this? It seems that the newsies always leave out of their accounts things this enquiring mind would like to know. For instance, did these people have a history of antagonism, did the guy scratch the vehicle, was he just imagined to have scratched the vehicle, did these guys have "female problems" (jealousy, maybe) with each other, was there a really insulting provocation, had they been drinking, etc etc etc?
 
People really don't fly across the room when hit by a shotgun blast.

What?! You mean hollywood is full of LIES!?!?!?!?!?! ;)

Man I was imagining 00 buck and just wondering how 8 pellets the size of a .32 wouldn't kill someone. Theres a lot of vital organs to have to miss in the torso.

or a slug!
 
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