Published: November 13, 2006 10:21 pm      

Orange man fires shots at another for peeing in public

By Debby Schamber

The Orange Leader



Urinating in public in Orange is a dangerous undertaking. Just ask James Neff, who is in stable condition at a Beaumont hospital.

Neff, 33, was shot once in the chest Saturday night, allegedly after urinating on the side of a convenience store in the 1800 block of DuPont Drive.

Orange Police Department officers arrived about 9:45 p.m. Saturday and found Neff lying in the parking lot. According to reports, the officers questioned Russell Lee Smith, 39, of Orange at the scene. Smith said he and Neff had gotten into an argument after Neff urinated on the building.

Smith was arrested and charged with aggravated assault, and a semi-automatic gun was retrieved at the scene. Precinct 2 Justice of the Peace Derry Dunn set his bail at $20,000.

A similar incident happened in 1988, said Capt. Charles Stephenson of the Orange Police Department.



Reach this reporter at 409-883-3571, Ext. 2613, or dschamber@orangeleader.com