One man is in the hospital after a neighbor dispute in the Marfrance area of Greenbrier County led to a battle using a string trimmer and a homemade spear.
According to information provided by the West Virginia State Police, an officer from the Rainelle Detachment responded to a call at around 9:14 a.m. on Wednesday, June 9, regarding a fight between two neighbors.
Upon arrival, the officer found the victim with a severe laceration in his neck. After conducting witness interviews, the officer learned that the victim had been using his string trimmer when his neighbor, Colton Trout, 22, came toward him telling him it was too early and that the noise had woken him up.
Trout then “came toward [the victim] at which time [the victim] put his string trimmer across the fence and used the spinning head to hit Mr. Trout’s arm, causing minor injuries,” the report stated.
At that time, Trout “backed up, picked up a homemade spear and threw it approximately 15 feet at [the victim], spearing him in the neck.”
The victim was transported by ambulance to Greenbrier Valley Medical Center where he underwent surgery for his injuries. He is currently in stable condition.
Trout was arrested on one charge of malicious wounding.