Stanwood man convicted of shooting his neighbor in the face

Published 11:39 pm Friday, July 10, 2009

EVERETT — A Snohomish County jury didn’t believe that a Stanwood man was defending himself when he shot his neighbor in the face in 2007.

Russell Hohf, 51, was convicted Friday of first-degree assault with a weapon. He remains jailed on $1 million bail.

Hohf was arrested Oct. 14, the day after the shooting, when a Snohomish County sheriff’s SWAT team descended on his rural home in the 29700 block of 46th Drive NW. Police said he was hiding in the house.

Hohf’s attorney, Guss Markwell, tried to convince jurors that his client felt threatened and was defending himself when he pulled out his gun and fired at his neighbor.

Snohomish County deputy prosecutor Valerie Shapiro argued that there was no reason for Hohf to feel threatened. The victim never gave any indication that he came to Hohf’s property to do anything but talk. He didn’t have a weapon and he waited by his vehicle for Hohf to approach.

She also argued that Hohf’s behavior after the shooting was not that of man acting in self-defense. He didn’t call 911. Instead, he drove off, buried the gun, grabbed a bite to eat and then hid his vehicle before returning home.

The victim was able to drive home, where his family called for help. He survived the shooting and testified during the trial.

Hohf is scheduled to be sentenced July 23.