A hunter in Colorado was arrested for assault and menacing after allegedly shooting an ultralight pilot in flight. James Johnson, 50, was flying over his cornfield in the Byers area on Sept. 1 when he was reportedly hit with shotgun pellets, the Denver Post reported this week. Johnson’s injuries were minor and he was treated at the scene, the Post reported. The hunter, Frank Urban, 49, was charged with second-degree assault and felony menacing, according to the report.
The incident appears to have followed a brief non-verbal confrontation while Johnson was flying and Urban was dove hunting with a cousin on private land in north-central Colorado. According to an Associated Press report, Johnson told authorities Urban appeared to “flip him off” and then pointed his shotgun at him. Urban denied intentionally shooting Johnson and told authorities the pilot buzzed over the hunting party several times, but the cousin reported that it appeared Urban was firing at the ultralight, according to the AP.
