It’s no secret – certainly not around here – that the four rules of gun safety are pretty important and the reason behind each one should be fairly self-evident. But if there’s one of them that probably gets short shrift in comparison to the other three, it’s number four – know your target and what’s behind it. Most people figure, “What’s the big deal? I know what I’m shooting at. Hell, I’m looking right at it.” Derrill Rockwell was most likely thinking something along those lines when he grabbed his .22 to chase away a bird outside his Grand Junction, Colorado home that he thought has been harassing his two cats. Except it wasn’t a bird . . .
Rockwell shot once but said he didn’t see the bird fly away. Soon after, he heard a woman’s voice, moaning in pain. Rockwell discovered a 23-year-old woman, with a large red mohawk, with a gunshot wound to the head.
“In 15 years in law enforcement, this was one of the more interesting cases I’ve worked,” Grand Junction Police Department detective Sean Crocker told the judge Friday.
And that was only the beginning of the story as reported by gjsentinel.com. Rockwell, who had been convicted of attempted burglary in 1995, wasn’t supposed to own a gun. He then lied about what happened and tossed the rifle into the Colorado River. And it turns out that the woman with the bright plumage may have initially passed out near Rockwell’s home as a result of the meth that was found in her possession.
Somehow, though, this colossal cluster managed to work itself out better than any of the participants had a right to expect after Rockwell decided he couldn’t live with what he did and came clean.
Rockwell, 49, was sentenced to serve five years probation after pleading guilty to felony possession of a weapon by a prior offender.
The District Attorney’s Office dismissed remaining charges, including tampering with evidence, reckless endangerment, disorderly conduct and false reporting. He was ordered to pay more than $10,000 in restitution.
As for the Mohawk maned meth-head, she evidently recovered from her wound and quickly skipped town.
Rockwell’s victim didn’t attend Friday’s hearing. (Deputy District Attorney Jason) Conley said she left Colorado after the shooting and couldn’t be contacted….
Just guessing, but that may have something to do with a possible controlled substance charge she probably thought was waiting for her. Long story short: know your target and what’s behind it, mkay?
This is the stuff of urban legend.
This was reported on national news… and radio…I think they agree with you!
The Truth usually is stranger than fiction.
I could not make this up.
Runs in the family. This is his son:
http://www.noco5.com/story/17315132/police-id-man-who-shot-evans-police-officer?clienttype=printable
Honestly, this seems so damn unlikely that I call B.S. Could it be possible that it was a dispute over drugs?
Dan I love that pic. Fits the story too. Nice photography.
Maybe you should add “(not pictured)“.
Thanks. Would love to take credit for it, but that’s not my photo. Put your cursor over the pic to see the photo credit.
Sometimes truth is indeed stranger than fiction.
Dan I love that pic. Fits the story too. Nice photography skills.
“…discovered a 23-year-old woman, with a large red mohawk, with a gunshot wound to the head.”
Did not see that coming. Narrowly avoided an explosive Pepsi expulsion.
“And it turns out that the woman with the bright plumage (not pictured above) may have initially passed out near Rockwell’s home as a result of the meth they found in her possession”.
Fix it for ya’.
Question… Not that I am an expert on this subject(wink wink nod nod) but isn’t Meth the same thing as speed? How do you pass out from using meth. I could understand if they said she crashed after a four day bender on Meth but most meth heads, if they have it they will use till there out then crash. Just my two cents. Sorry about the Off Topic….
You catch a .22 in the mullet and it doesnt kill you, you’ll most likely pass out too.
Red Mohawk…too funny.
Great multiple meaning photo – the bird resembled his target, plus the shooter violated “cardinal” rules.
Rockwell discovered a 23-year-old woman, with a large red mohawk
I’m thinking that it was originally a large brown mohawk. Ya know, before the large red head wound.
Well, in the “red mohawk” scenario you posit, it will probably turn brown again after a while…
Personally I found this cop’s reaction amusing:
“In 15 years in law enforcement, this was one of the more interesting cases I’ve worked,” Grand Junction Police Department detective Sean Crocker told the judge Friday.
His honesty is refreshing.
Shooting the woman aside, who the Hell goes around shooting a .22 at songbirds because they’re “harrassing” a cat? If any animal can deal with songbirds, it’s a cat. But, then, people used to shoot hawks and eagles as a matter of course.
Okay, I’m going to go cook up a batch of napalm to deal with those ants that suddenly appeared in my bathroom.
This reminds me of a Paul Harvey radio show. And the rest of the story!
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