BULLHEAD CITY — A 5-year prison sentence was imposed Friday, July 18, for a Bullhead City man who shot his ex-girlfriend and another man during a midnight hour cat exchange in April. A plea agreement results in two attempted second-degree murder convictions for Andrew Adams, 32.
Bullhead City police reported that a 27-year-old Bullhead City woman claimed it was Adams who invited her to retrieve her cat from his home in the 1900 block of Orca Lane. Adams has asserted that he asked that she get the cat in the morning and that she bring a female friend, if anyone along.
The woman and a 37-year-old Fort Mohave man instead drove to Adams’ residence in the 1900 block of Orca Lane around 12:15 a.m. on April 22.
Defense attorney Jaimye Ashley told Mohave County Superior Court Judge Lee Jantzen that Adams was not intending to shoot the woman when he fired a shot in her direction as she approached the residence.
“These people were coming to my home,” Adams told the Court, noting he was concerned that his ex-girlfriend came at night, and brought a man, inconsistent with his request. “They showed up with malicious intent coming at me and I protected myself.”
The police report indicated that the Fort Mohave man retrieved a rifle and engaged in argument with Adams before he sustained a gunshot wound to the head. Ashley said the woman was an unintended target but was struck in the chest in what she called a crossfire.
“It did sound a lot like the wild west, quite frankly,” said Judge Jantzen. “All hell broke loose.”
Jantzen said he understood, but could not accept Adams’ claim of self-defense since he pleaded guilty to the attempted murder charges.
The female victim has not cooperated with authorities and her non life-threatening injury was far less seriou s than the second victim. The Court was informed that the male victim recently underwent brain surgery, and faces an additional surgery and further medical treatment going forward.
Dave Hawkins
