ZERBE TOWNSHIP - State police are investigating a possible shooting that occurred Tuesday afternoon between Zerbe Township neighbors and relatives that have a long-standing family feud.
According to a search warrant issued by Magisterial District Judge Huge A. Jones, Dean Whary, of 465 Trevorton Road, Zerbe Township, contacted state police shortly before 1 p.m. and reported that several shots had been fired at him while he and others were hunting deer in a wooded property near the residence of next-door-neighbor, Carol Whary, of 439 Trevorton Road.
Dean told police that as he entered the woods he saw Carol and a relative, an adolescent male, approach him through a field, the warrant says.
"Dean Whary related that (the adolescent male) was carrying what appeared to be a long gun, possibly a rifle, and then a shot rang out at which time he heard Carol Whary state something to the effect of, 'How do you like being shot at?' which was followed up by additional shots," said state police in the warrant.
A neighbor said she heard two shots, followed by six to eight "consecutive shots." She said she saw Dean dressed in orange hunting gear around the time of the incident.
Dean told police the adolescent male was "shooting the weapon from his hip with at least one of the rounds striking a tree close to him in proximity," says the warrant.
A state police forensics unit searched the field and wooded area behind the Wheary residences. The warrant says police discovered damage to a tree consistent with a bullet hole near where Dean said he was standing as well as 7.62 casings in the field where Dean said Carol and the adolescent male were standing.
A neighbor said he saw the adolescent male run from the scene and stash the gun at Carol's house. The warrant states the male said Carol also fled the scene to her house and both then left the residence in Carol's tan Ford Escape.
The warrant does not specify when Carol and the adolescent male returned but both were seen talking to the police in front of Carol's house before being taken into custody around 2 p.m.
Using the warrant, police entered the residence around 6:15 p.m. in search of firearms and related materials.
The dispute between Carol and her stepson, Dean, dates back to 2010 when Dean alleged several zoning ordinance violations against Carol, including failing to clean up manure from alpacas Carol kept on the property. Carol later made allegations against Dean, including that he tampered with her mower, threw firecrackers at her alpacas, shot BB guns at her windows and cut her fence.