Fight Over Trespassing Ends In Delaware County Shooting, Arrest

Delaware County Sheriff's Office said a fight over trespassing led to a shooting and arrest Monday night. It happened just before 8 p.m. in the Oak Chapel community.

Sheriff Harlan Moore said investigators worked through the night trying to piece together details of the incident that left one man wounded.

Moore said two men: Steven Barrett and Darrell Philpott, went to some property near the intersection of E370 and S690 to cut wood at the request of a third man who thought the property was in foreclosure. They also started a fire to burn trash on the property, a news release states.

Police say as they were leaving the logging road, a man in a black Ford pickup truck veered in front of their vehicle, forcing them to stop. The driver of the pickup, later identified as 45-year-old Ed Turlington, jumped out and approached the men carrying a small handgun.

Barrett, 31, and Philpott, 53, said the man cursed at them and made threats, telling them they were trespassing. Philpott told deputies he got out of the truck and "had an exchange of unfriendly conversation" with Turlington.

Philpott said as he turned away, Turlington shot him in the back of his right leg. Barrett and Philpott drove to a nearby hospital.

"Investigators determined the bullet entered Philpott's leg from the back side," Sheriff Moore said.

Turlington called 911 and identified himself as the shooter, saying the men were committing arson on some property his brother was buying, according to the sheriff.

"I didn't want to do it, but I couldn't get them to stop," he reportedly said.

Deputies took Turlington into custody, impounding his truck and recovering a .380-caliber semi-automatic pistol. They are requesting he be charged with felony assault with a firearm on Barrett and shooting with intent to kill Philpott.

Turlington is in the Delaware County Jail.