Michigan man, 74, claims he accidentally shot anti-abortion activist, 83. He had argued with his wife.
Richard Harvey stated that the shooting happened after Harvey heard his wife and woman argue, and his wife telling her to leave the property.
“I came out and she is screaming and having a great old time, and (she is) being told, I’m sure I heard at least a dozen times, ‘You’re trespassing, get off the property,’”Harvey spoke Tuesday during an interview on-camera with WOOD-TV as he recounted his wife’s comments to the woman.
Harvey claimed that he fired a warning shot using his rifle and struck a tree.
Harvey stated that the woman was giving anti-abortion pamphlets and wouldn’t leave Harvey’s yard.
“She is still ranting and raving and she’s got this clipboard. She’s waving it around. I’m thinking she’s going to smack Sharon with it. So without thinking, I went to club it away with the rifle and my finger was still in the trigger guard. It went off and hit her about in here,”He said it, pointing to his shoulder.
Authorities said that the woman drove herself to a nearby station of police and was taken to hospital. She was later discharged.
Sharon Harvey, Harvey’s wife and unidentified woman had argued about abortion rights, Sharon Harvey said to the station. The woman was handing out flyers for Right to Life to encourage people to vote against Proposal 3. This November ballot measure would guarantee state abortion rights.
Sharon Harvey stated that she supports abortion rights. She then told the woman to leave. This triggered a heated argument. The station was informed that her husband appeared with a rifle.
“She’s doing OK and is recovering from the wound,”Anna Visser, the director of communication, education, for Right to Life of Michigan, said that the measure is not in their best interest. MichiganLive.
Michigan State Police is investigating the shooting which took place on Sept. 20. There have been no charges.
“Because this is an on-going investigation, I cannot comment on any of the evidentiary elements involved. Once the investigation has been completed, it will be forwarded to the prosecutor for review,” police spokeswoman Lt. Lt. Michelle Robinson told Inside Edition Digital on Wednesday.
Kyle Butler, the Ionia County Prosecutor, stated in a statement that he would decide whether to file charges once he has reviewed the findings from the Michigan State Police.
According to Michigan Right to Life spokeswoman, their volunteer was polite and was walking to her vehicle when she was shot.
Harvey said to the news station that Harvey realized he could face criminal charges.
“It’s always possible. I shot somebody. It was an accident,”He stated.