An 80-year-old Arizona man shot a door-to-door salesman in the back after the salesman arrived on a Segway and asked for water, police report. The suspect allegedly pursued the salesman with a holstered pistol before firing the shot that struck the victim.
The incident occurred when the salesman rode up to the man's residence seeking water. Instead of providing assistance, the elderly resident allegedly tracked the salesman and discharged his weapon. The victim sustained injuries that resulted in paralysis from the waist down, leaving him unable to feel or move his legs.
Police responded to the scene and launched an investigation into the shooting. The suspect's decision to arm himself and pursue the salesman suggests premeditation and intent. Arizona law permits self-defense claims only when a person reasonably believes deadly force is necessary to prevent imminent harm. A request for water from an unarmed individual on a Segway does not establish such a threat under the state's statutes.
The victim faces a lengthy recovery process. Medical evidence of spinal cord damage and resulting paralysis will form critical evidence in any prosecution. Arizona classifies shooting someone in the back as aggravated assault if it causes serious physical injury, which this incident clearly demonstrates. Depending on the severity of charges, the defendant could face felony prosecution and substantial prison time.
This case highlights tensions between property owners' rights and criminal liability for excessive force. While property owners retain the right to refuse entry, shooting an unarmed person requesting water crosses into criminal conduct. The suspect's age does not eliminate criminal responsibility under Arizona law.
Law enforcement will likely pursue charges based on the facts that the victim posed no immediate threat, the suspect armed himself deliberately, and the shooting caused catastrophic injury. The victim's permanent paralysis strengthens any prosecution for attempted murder or felony assault charges.