Texting leads to confrontation with shots fired


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ROY -- Two men were arrested and a third may face charges after angry text messages led to a confrontation with shots fired.

According to the Standard-Examiner, police say Paris Thornton, 31, and Robert Crozier, 32, were texting angry messages to a homeowner on Monday.

Police say Thornton and Crozier grew angry enough that they went to the homeowner's house on the 4500 block of 2675 West. Investigators say one of the men threw rocks at the house and at a car. The other allegedly urinated on the porch.

The homeowner also was hit in the back with a beer can. He then fired a couple of warning shots from an AK-47 semiautomatic rifle. Thornton and Crozier ran, but police found them in the neighborhood and arrested them.

Thornton was booked into jail on suspicion of assault, criminal trespass and felony criminal mischief. Crozier was arrested for fleeing from police and an outstanding warrant.

Investigators believe alcohol was involved in the incident.

Police Chief Greg Whinham tells the Standard Examiner the homeowner could actually face charges, too. Utah law allows a homeowner to use deadly force to defend himself when people come on to his property to commit a crime. The county attorney will determine whether what happened justified firing shots.

If it's determined those actions were not justified, the chief says the homeowner could be charged with reckless endangerment and aggravated assault.

E-mail: aadams@ksl.com

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