Man tries to set one man on fire, shoots another, deputies say

A man in the small community of Red Mountain tried to set a man on fire, broke into a home and then shot another man in the stomach Sunday, authorities said.

Strather Wise, 46, was taken into custody after pointing a shotgun at drivers and residents who watched the chaos unfold, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.

It all started with Wise and Shawn Hawk, 39, of Canyon Country, in a dispute at a home in the 700 block of Highway 395, authorities said Tuesday.

That’s when Wise allegedly threw kerosene on Hawk and walked backward as he continued to pour it on the ground, lighting the fuel on fire, authorities said. Hawk was able to step away and avoid being burned as the trail of burning fuel snaked toward him, but the front lawn was scorched.

Authorities said Wise then walked to another home, kicked the door open and stole two shotguns -- one of which he used to fire toward Hawk and others.

Neighbor Greg Thompson, 56, saw smoke and heard the gunfire, so he confronted Wise.

But Wise struck Thompson’s arm with the shotgun before shooting him in the stomach, sheriff’s officials said.

Wise fled and hid inside a home until sheriff’s officials took him into custody.

Thompson was airlifted to a trauma center to be treated for wounds, which authorities said were not life-threatening.

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