03-27-2012, 12:28 PM
KRDO
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. -- A 49-year-old Grand Junction man who said he shot a woman in the head when he mistook her large red Mohawk for a fowl that had been harassing his cats, has been sentenced to five years probation.
Derrill Rockwell told police he fired one shot at what he thought was a bird sitting on a hill near his home Oct. 5, and soon after, he heard a woman moaning in pain.
Prosecutors said the "bird" turned out to be a 23-year-old woman who may have been sleeping on the hill. Her injury was not life threatening.
Rockwell was sentenced Friday for felony possession of a weapon by a prior offender. Prosecutors said the woman, who is believed to be a transient, has left Colorado and could not be reached to testify.
![[Image: images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRFr6uhpx28-65Y8LrGIzs...1tW8ClxLum]](https://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRFr6uhpx28-65Y8LrGIzsa0IOD6yZcoETyLRfDPER9NEo6cH1tW8ClxLum)
![[Image: red-mohawk-woodpecker-joshua-tillery.jpg]](http://images.fineartamerica.com/images-medium/red-mohawk-woodpecker-joshua-tillery.jpg)
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. -- A 49-year-old Grand Junction man who said he shot a woman in the head when he mistook her large red Mohawk for a fowl that had been harassing his cats, has been sentenced to five years probation.
Derrill Rockwell told police he fired one shot at what he thought was a bird sitting on a hill near his home Oct. 5, and soon after, he heard a woman moaning in pain.
Prosecutors said the "bird" turned out to be a 23-year-old woman who may have been sleeping on the hill. Her injury was not life threatening.
Rockwell was sentenced Friday for felony possession of a weapon by a prior offender. Prosecutors said the woman, who is believed to be a transient, has left Colorado and could not be reached to testify.