Who doesn’t love the image of the ornery old man shouting, “You kids stay out of my yard!” Marion County, Indiana, resident Michael Culver doesn’t. Not since his 68-yearold neighbour backed up the demand by popping a couple of bullets into his neck.

At the heart of the incident is the Culvers’ dachsund, BJ. More specifically, whether or not BJ defecated in Walter Travis Jr.’s yard. Judy Culver says BJ didn’t, but admitted he wandered onto Travis’ property. Travis insisted he knows a defecating dog when he sees one, and told Judy that all Culvers, and their pets, better stay away. Enter Michael, Judy’s husband, who went to complain to Travis about the shoddy treatment of his kin. An altercation ensued, and Travis fetched his .38, firing several times as Culver ran away. Travis was later arrested.

Another neighbour says Travis yells at people “maybe once a week,” and police have records of three prior complaints he’s made about such trespassings.

» Scott Saxon