Kiwi’s target lived in armed community
The American neighbourhood a Kiwi travelled to, with the intent of meeting up with a teenager he met online, is a community armed with weapons.
Troy Skinner, 25, was shot in the neck with a .22 pistol by the mother of a 14-year-old girl he had met on a gaming site.
He had arrived at her home in Goochland County, Virginia, on Friday (local time), and allegedly attempted to break into the home.
Skinner was injured in the shooting but is now in ‘‘fair condition’’ in a secure ward at hospital in police custody.
Goochland county sheriff James Agnew said Skinner was likely to face charges of breaking and entering with a deadly weapon with the intent to commit rape, robbery or murder.
Local WTVR reporter Melissa Hipolit said a neighbour said Skinner had broken into a house in the wrong neighbourhood, as all the homeowners were armed.
In the state of Virginia, the National Rifle Association said, permits were not required to purchase or possess a rifle, shotgun or handgun.
According to the National Rifle Association, Virginia residents may purchase firearms from any licensed federal firearms licensee, even if they are out of state.
It is also lawful to openly carry a handgun in the state.
Despite this, shootings are rare in the community and Hipolit said the neighbourhood was in shock about the attack.
‘‘People are taken aback that it would happen.
‘‘It’s completely out of the ordinary for the Goochland community.’’
Hipolit said Steeplechase Parkway, where the incident happened, was a nice, quiet subdivision with large homes.
It was a small-town, rural community about 35 minutes out of the city.
Goochland county sheriff James Agnew also said the attack was rare.
Agnew said Skinner was repeatedly warned that the homeowner had a gun but continued to try to get into the house.
Home invasions in Goochland were unusual and the incident was hard to fathom, he said.
‘‘It was a determined, planned, violent attack where he was relentless in his attempts to get into the house.’’
Skinner had travelled to the neighbourhood from nearby Richmond, where he stayed in a hostel.
The general manager of HI Richmond Hostel confirmed Skinner had stayed there for one night, and had identified himself as being from Auckland.
‘‘HI Richmond is shocked and disheartened by this incident, and our sincerest sympathy goes out to the family involved,’’ she said.
‘‘Our purpose is to create a more tolerant world, and we pride ourselves on turning strangers into friends.
‘‘There is an unspoken trust and respect among our diverse community of travellers, and it’s unfortunate this person violated that trust.’’
She added that there had been no incidents at the hostel involving Skinner, and the hostel was ‘‘working in full co-operation with the authorities’’.
‘‘It was a determined, planned, violent attack.’’
Goochland county sheriff James Agnew