Domestic Incidents Leave Two Dead This Week

    A Paisley man was shot and killed on Saturday night after a domestic disturbance at 27631 Veva Avenue in the Lake Kathryn area.
    Lake County Sheriff’s Office officials reported that the shooting occurred at approximately 9 p.m., and when deputies arrived they found Chris Smith, 31, deceased from an apparent single gunshot wound.
    An interview with Smith’s wife, Marina McDonald, resulted in her reporting she and Smith had been in a physical altercation, during which Smith pointed a gun at her.
    “McDonald stated she attempted to take the gun from him, at which time a struggle for the gun ensued,” said John Herrell of the sheriff’s office.
    Deputies observed injuries on McDonald that would be consistent with a physical altercation.
    “This investigation is active and ongoing,” said Herrell on Saturday.
    As of press deadline this week, no charges had been reported in the case.
    In other news, A shooting over a cat left a man dead last Thursday. Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the area of 15980 SE Avenue Road in the southeast Marion County area after a reported shooting that left James Arland Taylor, 41, dead.
    MCSO reports state Taylor’s neighbor, Cliffton Anthony Bliss, 58, became angry after Taylor’s cat had entered his property. Bliss retrieved a firearm and threatened to shoot the cat.
    “The owner of the cat asked Bliss not to shoot the cat,” said Sgt. Paul Bloom of the sheriff’s office, “at which time Bliss shot and killed Taylor.”
    Bliss was charged with second-degree homicide and was being held in the Marion County jail without bond.
    Taylor was shot in the chest with a weapon believed to be a .22 rifle. An unnamed resident in the area reported hearing two shots after Bliss had come to Taylor’s door to inquire if he had a cat. Taylor went outside and reportedly asked Bliss why he would shoot an animal he wasn’t going to eat. After a further verbal exchange, the witness said the shots were fired.
    Two people in the area at the time of the shooting, Thomas Athen, Jr. and Bradley Rose, reported passing by and observed the victim laying on the ground. Athen stated that he rolled down the window of his vehicle and asked Taylor if he was Okay, with the victim reportedly responding ’No, I’m dying.” Athen said that Bliss was at the scene at that time, but then ‘disappeared’. Athen also told law enforcement that Bliss had a history of confrontations with neighbors over cats and dogs.