Campground shooting trial

Jurors warned they will hear different versions of events

By Brad Bauer, bbauer@mariettatimes.com
Jurors are being asked this week to sort through differing accounts of a campground shooting last year that left a New Matamoras man seriously injured.

Because it was dark at the time of the shooting and many of those involved in the incident were drunk and under the influence of drugs, attorneys said jurors should expect widely varying accounts of what happened.

“It’s amazing how different people can see the same event so differently,” said Washington County Public Defender Ray Smith during opening statements.

Smith is representing Steven Frazier, 25, of 455 Wilson Drive, Lowell, who is charged with shooting at a man and helping to hide evidence. Frazier’s father, Gary L. Frazier, 61, also of 455 Wilson Drive, Lowell, is charged with the June 20 shooting of Larry “Buck” Ridgeway Jr., 30, near the Haught Run Campground in Wingett Run.

Gary Frazier is set to stand trial April 29.

According to Assistant Washington County Prosecutor Susan Vessels, Ridgeway and others were riding four-wheelers near the campground at night when they were confronted by the Fraziers, who were upset because they had two young children with them who were trying to sleep.

According to police, Gary Frazier admitted to shooting Ridgeway in the stomach, but he claims it was to protect his son.

Ridgeway’s uncle testified during a preliminary hearing that his nephew struck Steven Frazier, which caused him to fall and the shotgun he was holding to discharge. At that point, Gary Frazier shot Ridgeway.

Vessels claims Steven Frazier then got up and fired at least two additional rounds from his shotgun at Ridgeway. She said at least one of the shots hit Ridgeway’s four-wheeler.

“He shot at the four-wheeler where Larry Ridgeway was crouched behind and dying from a gunshot wound,” Vessels said.

Police only found one spent shotgun shell, but Vessels maintains the Fraziers disposed of the others.

Smith said Ridgeway was high on marijuana and more than double the legal limit for alcohol consumption when he was confronted by the Fraziers. He said several others riding four-wheelers were also under the influence at the time of the shooting, but he maintained the Fraziers were sober.

“Pay close attention and use your better judgment and common sense,” Smith said during opening statements. “Who hasn’t been drinking? Who is sober?”

Testimony is expected to continue at 9 a.m. today in Judge Susan Boyer’s Washington County Common Pleas Courtroom. Frazier is facing as much as 13 years in prison on charges of second-degree felonious assault and third-degree tampering with evidence. Testimony is expected to continue through Wednesday.