Man Faces 4 Years For Shooting In Knee

A Plummer, Idaho, man was sentenced Monday to four years in prison for shooting a Spokane man in the knee.

John G. Mahoney shot Randall H. Eller on April 20 during a party in Worley on the Coeur d’Alene Indian Reservation.

Mahoney admitted he was carrying a concealed .380-caliber pistol at the party, according to a report from the U.S. attorney’s office in Boise.

Mahoney became intoxicated and had been arguing with Eller. Mahoney pulled out the gun and threatened to kill Eller, according to the report.

After a short time, Mahoney put the gun away, but minutes later he pulled the gun out again and fired three shots at Eller, who was not armed.

One of the shots hit Eller in the knee, severing an artery. The other two bullets hit a table that Eller had crawled under for protection, according to the report.

Mahoney pleaded guilty to assault with intent to commit murder. In addition to prison time, Federal District Court Judge Edward J. Lodge ordered that Mahoney pay more than $19,000 in restitution to Eller.

, DataTimes