WESTMINSTER, S.C. (FOX Carolina) — A Westminster man was charged after pointing an air gun at two elderly people and firing at their dog, according to the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office.
An arrest report from the sheriff’s office states that officers responded around 5:27 p.m. to a report of a man, later identified as 64-year-old Jeffrey Alan Wilkinson, pointing an air gun at two elderly people on Wednesday, Dec. 17, at Lake Hartwell RV Park. The report says he is the owner of the RV park.
When officers arrived, they ordered him to put his hands up, to which he responded, “Get off my property!” Wilkinson paced back and forth, appeared to put his hands up momentarily but then put them back down and dug around in his pockets, the report stated.
The report said Wilkinson claimed not to hear the commands from deputies, even after they used the PA system. Deputies noted that he appeared to be intoxicated.
After other deputies arrived at the scene, officials said a stun gun was used and Wilkinson was taken into custody.
While at the scene, deputies spoke with the victims. One victim denied there was any disturbance, the report said. The second victim told law enforcement that Wilkinson fired at her after her dog got loose. While she tried to get her dog to come back, Wilkinson reportedly went outside and stated that he would kill the dog.
The report said Wilkinson got into a kneeling position and fired two shots at the dog that was running toward South Highway 11. After the shots were fired, the second victim was able to grab her dog and go inside her camper.
She told law enforcement that Wilkinson continued to scream that he would get rid of her dog because it was a “nuisance,” the report said.
While speaking with deputies, she was reportedly shaking, trembling, and appeared to be in fear for her life. Wilkinson and the woman later spoke to FOX Carolina and said she has a natural shake to due to an unrelated medical condition, but was not shaking in fear of her life.
Deputies said when they spoke to Wilkinson, he confessed to having several drinks at Applebee’s before the incident. He told deputies he fired an air gun at the dog to protect it from running into a main highway.
While speaking to FOX Carolina, Wilkinson said he is going to contest the charges against him. He called the incident a “big misunderstanding” and said neighbors would vouch for him.
Wilkinson was charged with breach of the peace (common law). Additionally, law enforcement is seeking a warrant for resisting arrest.
Wilkinson was booked into the Oconee County Detention Center.
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