JOYCE – Alleged trespassing and road rage led to a shooting near Joyce.

It happened late yesterday afternoon on Whiskey Creek Beach Road.

Sheriff’s deputies were called to a chaotic scene where a vehicle had ran off the road, a man had been shot in the left bicep and several bystanders and vehicles were in the road. The driver of the vehicle off the road, 62-year-old Steve Thompson of Joyce, claimed to have defended himself against 42-year-old Garry Edwards by shooting him.

Sheriff’s investigators say Edwards and his wife had driven to a location on Whiskey Creek Beach Road where Edward’s family owns private property and had problems with trespassing hunters.

Edward’s adult son told deputies Thompson had trespassed in the past and that Edwards went to confront him about the trespassing.

Thompson claimed he was driving back to Hwy 112 when a vehicle driven by Edwards stopped in the middle of the roadway, blocking him. Thompson went around Edward’s vehicle and Edwards followed him. Thompson stated Edwards eventually side swiped his vehicle running him off the road.

According to investigators, Edwards quickly approached Thompson at the driver’s side.  They say as Thompson opened his driver’s door, Edwards began to punch Thompson.

Thompson stated that because Edwards ran him off the road and assaulted him, he feared for his life.  Thompson, who is 16 years older than Edwards, defended himself by shooting one round from a 9mm pistol.

The shot went into Edward’s left bicep and traveled into his chest.

Edwards was transported to Olympic Medical Center where he was airlifted to a Seattle hospital for further treatment.

Investigators say the case will likely be forwarded to the prosecutor for possible criminal charges against Edwards.