Man arrested for shooting at Golden Hills Mobile Estates
Manager, wife both wounded
An argument over rules at the residential swimming pool at Golden Hills Mobile Estates Monday night escalated into gunfire and two people being shot.
Harry Sprague, 74, of Porterville, is believed to have shot the manager and his wife, who is also believed to be a manager, with a .357 magnum revolver. Sprague was arrested shortly after the shooting and had bail set at $1 million. Porterville Police Lt. Dominic Barteau said Tuesday afternoon the wife had been released from the hospital and her husband was awaiting surgery. Both are expected to recover.
At approximately 7 p.m., officers from the Porterville Police Department responded to the pool area at 720 E. Worth Ave. regarding reports of shots fired with two people injured.
“There was an argument over pool roles,” said Barteau. He said there were other people at the pool and outside the pool area when the shots were fired, but no one else was struck. Barteau said it appeared the man had the gun with him at the pool as he did not leave and then return.
Sprague is a resident of the mobile home park and “he’s been there for several years,” said Barteau.
The first officers to arrive found the 48-year-old man laying on the sidewalk suffering from a gunshot wound. An additional victim, his 49-year-old wife, was also located suffering from a gunshot wound as well. Both had been shot once, said police.
Shortly after officers arrived on scene, they were able to locate and apprehend the suspect, Sprague. Barteau said the man was found attempting to leave the park on a bicycle, but was arrested without incident.
Sprague was subsequently booked into the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office jail for two counts of attempted murder with special allegations regarding the use of a firearm.
The investigation of this incident is ongoing. Anyone with additional information is urged to contact Detective Martin at 782-7400.