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Man who shot woman says he thought Mohawk was bird
Posted: Mar 25, 2012 10:44 AM by Matt Stafford
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (AP) - A 49-year-old Grand Junction man who said he shot a woman in the head when he mistook her large red Mohawk for a fowl that had been harassing his cats has been sentenced to five years probation.
Derrill Rockwell told police he fired one shot at what he thought was a bird sitting on a hill near his home Oct. 5, and soon after, he heard a woman moaning in pain.
Prosecutors say the "bird" turned out to be a 23-year-old woman who may have been sleeping on the hill. Her injury was not life threatening.
The Daily Sentinel reports Rockwell was sentenced Friday for felony possession of a weapon by a prior offender. Prosecutors say the woman, who is believed to be a transient, has left Colorado and could not be reached to testify.
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