Washington state man gets 20 years for shooting acquaintance

Associated Press

PORT ORCHARD — A Washington man who shot an old acquaintance who came to his house on Halloween has been sentenced to 20 years in prison.

The Kitsap Sun reported that Raymond Thomas Short, 68, received the sentence Friday in Kitsap County Superior Court.

A jury in June convicted Short of attempted first-degree murder for shooting Robert Roland Sears, 73, in the face with a .22-caliber pistol.

Short at his trial said he was surprised and afraid when Sears showed up at his house on Oct. 31, 2016. Short says he intended to fire a bullet by Sears’ ear but mistakenly fired a bullet into Sears’ face.

Sears says he went to Short’s house to ask about buying a car, and according to him the two men were on friendly terms.

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