Man shot in dispute over deer

STANWOOD — A self-described survivalist is in the Snohomish County Jail after his neighbor was shot in the face Saturday.

Police say Russell C. Hohf, 49, shot his neighbor during a dispute about looking at deer, according to court documents.

Hohf was arrested early Sunday after a Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team found him hiding in his home in the 29700 block of 46th Drive NW, documents said.

The trouble started Friday when Hohf caught the neighbor’s brother “looking at some deer” on Hohf’s driveway. The next day, the neighbor drove to Hohf’s home to speak to him about the previous day’s confrontation, documents said.

The neighbor returned to his own home a few minutes later with blood on his face. He told his wife to call 911 and told his brother that Hohf had shot him, documents said.

Witnesses told police they saw Hohf on his tractor about the same time the neighbor showed up at his house. Witnesses told police they heard a gunshot come from the area.

Due to the shot man’s injuries, detectives weren’t able to immediately interview him. Detectives found evidence he was shot at close range with a small-caliber gun. There was no evidence he was armed with a gun, documents said.

The man, 38, was taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, where he was listed Monday afternoon in serious condition in the intensive care unit.

After the shooting, relatives of the shot man and neighbors called prosecutors to say they were afraid of Hohf, Snohomish County deputy prosecuting attorney Mona Clarkson said in Everett District Court on Monday.

Hohf told Judge Tam Bui that he likely could raise enough money to a buy a bail bond to earn his release, but he asked the judge to lower the bail amount.

Bui kept bail set at $250,000 and ordered the man to have no contact with any of the victim’s relatives or with other neighbors who witnessed the incident.

He remained jailed Monday afternoon for investigation of first-degree assault.

Reporter Jackson Holtz: 425-339-3437 or jholtz@heraldnet.com.

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