My Neighbor shot at Me and My Chickens This Morning

[Then I Will]

So why weren't they arrested? Is shooting at someone with a pellet gun not 1st degree assault? It is here in Alabama. You should have pressed charges. Why are cops accompanying them?

I did not have proof, i.e. stop and try to video record him. He was shooting at my coop, unawares that I was inside. When I stepped out of the coop to confront, he fired another shot in my direction --maybe before he saw me step out. He was shooting at the birds and my husband did not want to press charges.

Hello,

I am so sorry to hear that! That is just NOT RIGHT for someone to do that to you! Are you ok? Not hurt at all?

I am very sorry you had this experience.

Jared

Thanks for the concern! I am fine. It took ten seconds of walking away from the angry neighbor before my fear turned into anger. Upon which, I turned my adrenaline into action.

 

[flappychicken]

My goodness that is awful! Were your rooster okay? I have to say though

Why on earth should she get rid of her roosters just because her neighbors think it's a good idea to shoot at her? That's ridiculous. There are things called earplugs. What happens if someone drives by in a noisy vehicle? Will they start shooting at vehicles, then? It's just absurd to think it would be acceptable behavior, and to reward such illegal behavior with giving them what they want is NOT the answer.

I have no idea why you would get rid of your roosters if like you say they were barely Audible. I think you handled the situation very well. If it were me I would have probably started yelling and him on the offensive. . I admire your bravery and please don't get rid of your rooster unless you absolutely have to☺

 

[Skipper81]

Not to stick up for neighbor but
God says love thy neighbor and enemy and widows (you said his wife died) he's a widower and and take care of the sick
They clearly seem to be having some mental issues
Oh and thou shall not kill lol so I'd unload the guns
I bet it's really hard living without your life partner and I'd be a crazy grumpy old man without my wife's cooking and her telling me it's gonna be ok sometimes
This neighbor might need company or a good home cooked meal or some fresh eggs and a smile
Everybody handles things differently but people act out when they are scared or sad just like chickens

 

[itsasmallfarm]

scary

 

[RiverOtter]

.... my husband did not want to press charges.

Next time - and dollars to donuts there'll be a next time - you press charges and let your husband stew about it.
Not to male-bash, but it seems like if a man can't take action right that very instant, he just doesn't want to and assumes everything will blow over.

It doesn't. It escalates. Seems every woman knows this.

Cops aren't generally keen on folks pressing charges - it creates an awful lot of work for them, and they get frustrated because a lot of time, there's not a lot they can do, it gets really disheartening (not cop-bashing either, just stating a fact, half my uncles are on the force).
But again, you go on and press charges!
One of those very same uncles taught me that, he said in some districts, they are told to discourage folks from pressing charges and to do their best to make sure that if there's "no harm" (no car stolen, no property damage that needs an insurance claim, no hospital visit) that there's "no foul" (charges pressed) not because of the officers, it's a political thing between the sheriff and DA.

Know what all that is? Not Your Problem.
So you press charges. In fact, it's not too late to press charges for this incident. Go down the the sheriff's dept and insist. Say that you were talked out of it before and your husband didn't want to but he wasn't the one being shot at and you really feel unsafe and that these men are going to try to attack you again. Bring some pellets from the guns if you can find them and ask that they be logged as evidence. If any are stuck in your coop, insist (and you'll likely have to) that someone come out and document them as evidence.

You have to protect yourself. Maybe nothing will happen if you press charges today. But the next time they come you can start making a lot of noise about how you pressed charges once and nothing happened and then something will get done because they'll be afraid you might sue, and you'll have the paper trail to do so.

 

[shawluvsbirds]

I've had my fair share of miserable neighbors. All I can say is do whatever you feel comfortable doing and whatever you have to do to protect yourself and your family. . if that means filing charges and go out packing when you do chores. . or giving up your roosters to avoid the confrontation.
No you shouldn't HAVE to give up your roosters and it's totally not fair. But in the end it may be the easiest solution.
A lot of good thoughts have been given here but . . whatever you decide to do is what YOU have to live with.
I sure hope whatever you do works for you.
Ps. I would definitely warn your other neighbors if I were you.

 

[jane s chickens]

A protection order will keep them off your property or you can call cops & report them & they should be arrested pronto.

 

[shawluvsbirds]

A protection order will keep them off your property or you can call cops & report them & they should be arrested pronto.

If she absolutely needs to do that it is an option to try. AND you have to actually be there to catch them on your property to make the call.. . . And sometimes when they get served the papers it just infuriates the person to the point of violence.
I had to get a restraining order on a neighbor once. It did somewhat help because they were druggies and didn't want cops around. But that didn't stop them from sneaking over at night and messing with my vehicles.

 

[ChickenyChickeny]

Why on earth should she get rid of her roosters just because her neighbors think it's a good idea to shoot at her? That's ridiculous. There are things called earplugs. What happens if someone drives by in a noisy vehicle? Will they start shooting at vehicles, then? It's just absurd to think it would be acceptable behavior, and to reward such illegal behavior with giving them what they want is NOT the answer.

That's true. So many people complain that 'Roosters are too noisy!' But cars and motorcycles are much noisier, and people have no problem with those.

 

[h2oratt]

Are you zoned to have roosters?