Police: Man Killed Teen for Walking on Lawn (Ohio)

Las Vegas Sun ^ | 21 Mar 06 | Lisa Cornwell

[xzins]

Police: Man Killed Teen for Walking on Lawn By LISA CORNWELL ASSOCIATED PRESS

BATAVIA, Ohio (AP) -

0321dv-lawn-shooting A man who neighbors say was devoted to his meticulously kept lawn was charged with murder in the shooting of a 15-year-old boy who apparently walked across his yard.

Charles Martin called 911 on Sunday afternoon, saying calmly: "I just killed a kid."

Police, who released the call's contents, said Martin also told the dispatcher: "I've been harassed by him and his parents for five years. Today just blew it up."

Larry Mugrage, whose family lived next door, was shot in the chest with a shotgun. The high school freshman was pronounced dead at a hospital.

Martin, 66, allegedly told police he had several times had problems with neighbors walking on his lawn. He remained jailed without bond Monday. His jailers said no attorney was listed for him.

Neighbors said Martin lived alone quietly, often sitting in front of his one-story home with its neat lawn, well-trimmed shrubbery and flag pole with U.S. and Navy flags flying.

Joanne Ritchie, 46, said Mugrage was known as "a good kid," but she always also considered Martin to be friendly.

Union Township is near Batavia, about 20 miles east of Cincinnati.

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Associated Press Writer Dan Sewell in Cincinnati contributed to this report.

[Zeppelin]

to quote Pink Floyd:

"The lunatic is on the grass..."

[deport]

Martin's call to 911

  Listen to Martin's 911 call

Martin: I just killed a kid.
Dispatcher: You just killed a kid?
Martin: Yes ma'am.
Dispatcher: Okay, what happened?
Martin: It's been going on for five years.
Dispatcher: What's going on?
Martin: I've been being harassed by him and his parents for five years. Today just blew it up.
Dispatcher: What is your name, sir?
Martin: Charles Martin.
Dispatcher: Okay, what happened, tell me what happened, Charles.
Martin: Kid's just been giving me a bunch of sh**, making the other kids harass me and my place, tearing things up.
Dispatcher: Okay, so what'd you do?
Martin: I shot him with a 410 shotgun twice.
Dispatcher: You shot him with a shotgun? Where is he?
Martin: He's laying in his yard.

Other comments on this thread if anyone is interested....
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[Emmett McCarthy]

There's a guy across the street from me who bears watching based on this story. Anybody who'd shoot a person - much less a kid - over this deserves to be "weeded out" of society.

[manwiththehands]

Or the opening of a Tarantino movie ... "DO YOU READ ENGLISH?! THE SIGN SAYS: 'STAY OF THE F#*#&# GRASS'!"

[mystery-ak]

OMG...he shot him twice with a shotgun!

[Retired Chemist]

Did you hear his 911 call reporting that he had shot the kid?

[Restorer]

I get tired of the little jerks tearing boards off my fence so they can cut through.

But I haven't shot any of them yet.

[Crispus Attucks Patriot]

I agree with you.

Fire up Ol' Sparky!

[xzins]

I haven't heard it. It'll probably be on the evening news.

Violence seems to be part of the formula around here lately.

[yankeedame]

Sounds like a scene at the beginning of a Stephen King novel.

And some screen-writer in Hollywood just perked up his ears. "I can see it now...." he thinks to himself.

[Joe 6-pack]

"...maybe he'll be portrayed by Walkeen Phoenix...."

I was hedging between Leon-yard-o Dicaprio or Bill More-hay....it's a turf decision....

[TomGuy]

An autopsy will determine if more than one blast struck the victim.

What is the point of this?

[xzins]

Sharpshooter award?

[Joe 6-pack]

"What is the point of this?"

Scrupulous forensic documentation, i would imagine...a second round is one of the first things you look for when trying to rule out an accident.

[beyond the sea]

LOL.

[William Tell]

Restorer said: "I get tired of the little jerks tearing boards off my fence so they can cut through. But I haven't shot any of them yet."

The parents of the dead teen probably got a good laugh at this guy complaining about their son's violating this man's private property. You can't justify shooting a teenager over walking on grass. And you can't justify parents failing to discipline their children to stay off other people's grass.

The liberal solution will be to outlaw some more firearms.

The conservative solution will be to demand more accountability from parents for their children's behavior.

[Mordacious]

There's one in every neighborhood.

Yup. We had one on our street when I was a kid. If you stepped on his property, he'd sic his German shepherd on you. Some people just don't play well with others.

[deport]

OMG...he shot him twice with a shotgun!

---

I saw a clip on tv this morning saying he shot him with a 410 slug and then approached to 20-30 feet and shot him a second time.... no article I've read mentions that.

[TomGuy]

when trying to rule out an accident.

It would seem that the 911 call ruled out 'accident'.

Dispatcher: Okay, so what'd you do?
Martin: I shot him with a 410 shotgun twice.
Dispatcher: You shot him with a shotgun? Where is he?
Martin: He's laying in his yard.

[savedbygrace]

OMG...he shot him twice with a shotgun!

He was all out of Weed-B-Gone.