Man Shot in Back in Squabble Over Pet Parrot

A jilted lover distraught over losing custody of a pet parrot confronted his ex-girlfriend at her new condominium early Saturday but left in critical condition with a gunshot wound to the back.

San Diego County Sheriff’s deputies said Bernard Greg Snyder, 31, an El Cajon auto mechanic, drove to the home of Julie Lyn Gervais, who manages a pet store. Gervais lives in the 12000 block of Wintercrest Drive in Lakeside, where the shooting occurred.

The incident happened shortly after 7:30 a.m. Investigators said Gervais, 31, watching from an upstairs window, observed Snyder getting out of his truck. She armed herself with a handgun, deputies said, and prepared to meet him as he came to the door.

Snyder demanded entry to retrieve the parrot. Gervais opened the door a few inches, officers said, and they exchanged angry words. Snyder forced his way in and strode past Gervais toward the parrot. She fired once, investigators said, striking him in the back.

Snyder was taken to Sharp Memorial Hospital, where late Saturday he remained in critical condition after hours of surgery. Deputies said a man at Gervais’ apartment witnessed the shooting.

Gervais was later booked into the County Jail at Las Colinas for women in Santee on suspicion of attempted murder.

A hospital spokeswoman said late Saturday that, after having a lung removed, Snyder’s vital signs were “not very stable.”