Posted on 08/06/2003 9:03:57 AM PDT by truthandlife
Officials with ESPN say they have video of a man who may have shot at a professional bass fisherman during last weekend's CITGO Bassmaster Classic, but will not release the tape without a court order.
Authorities expected to have a subpoena today, said John Marie, a spokesman for the Plaquemines Parish sheriff.
"They want to go through the legal process," Marie said.
Fisherman Gary Klein, 45, of Weatherford, Texas, earned $50,000 for finishing second in the tournament. He told authorities on Sunday that a shirtless man had fired what looked like a shotgun at his boat as he passed about 60 or 70 yards from a dock near the Camp Canal in Venice.
An ESPN camera team riding with Klein returned later in the day to tape the man. But network officials would not discuss details of the tape on Tuesday.
"I can confirm the existence of the tape," said George McNeilly, a spokesman for ESPN Outdoors. "If the local authorities want the tape and go through the proper channels, we will furnish them with the tape."
Deputies believe the footage includes close-ups of the suspected gunman on the dock, Marie said. Authorities have been monitoring a suspect, but hope to confirm his identity on the tape before seeking an arrest warrant, he said.
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