Staff Report

 

WILLOW WOOD — The Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a shooting death that happened Friday afternoon in Willow Wood.

According to a press release, at approximately 4:50 p.m. on Friday, the sheriff’s office got a call about a shooting at 340 Township Road 76, Willow Wood.

When deputies arrived, they met with Donald Russell, 61, who told them that when he arrived at home after work, he heard the sound of loud banging coming from his hunting cabin, which was several hundred yards from his home.

When he went to see what was causing the noise, he said he found his neighbor, Curtis L. Craig, 73, was attempting to remove the underpinning from the cabin.

Craig, who was carrying a small caliber rifle, began to argue with Russell.

Russell told deputies that Craig began to threaten him with the rifle and although he was retreating, Craig continued to advance.

He said Craig punched him in the face with his fist and the two men began to fight and ended up wrestling on the ground.

Russell was able to grab the rifle away from Craig who was on top of Russell.

Russell said Craig retrieved a knife and tried to stab him.

Russell fired the rifle, striking Craig multiple times in the torso.

Russell told deputies that Craig has been coming to their property the last couple of weeks causing trouble.

The Lawrence County Coroner’s Office arrived on scene and pronounced Craig dead. Craig will be taken to Montgomery County for an autopsy.

The sheriff’s office continues to investigate the case.