KINGMAN – Attorneys offered brief opening statements as trial in a Kingman shooting case began Monday at the Mohave County Law and Justice Center. Zachary Sowers, 26, is charged with attempted second-degree murder and two counts of attempted aggravated assault.
Deputy Mohave County Attorney Amanda Claerhout told the Superior Court jury that Sowers had been living with his uncle when the uncle asked him to vacate his residence in the 2800 block of East Hearne Avenue last December 19. She said they argued about the eviction, but that Sowers packed up his things before he knocked on his uncle’s bedroom door.
Claerhout said the uncle, 62 at the time, was armed, but did not fire his weapon but was shot by Sowers. The victim was transported to Kingman Regional Medical Center before flown to another trauma center in Las Vegas.
The uncle was the first witness to testify in the trial that is expected to push into Thursday.
Sowers was apprehended following a short foot pursuit by law enforcement just a few blocks from where the shooting occurred, yet authorities never recovered the weapon involved. Defense attorney Jaimye Ashley said the state’s evidence is predominately victim-statement focused, and insufficient to merit conviction.
