Reply #26: suspect's version sounds more plausible to me...

[Scout]

Vang told investigators he didn't realize he was on private property when he climbed the tree stand, according to the probable-cause statement released Tuesday. The county has thousands of acres of public hunting land, some of it "virtually around" the private property where the shooting occurred, Meier has said.

A hunter approached Vang to tell him he was on private property, and Vang started to leave as other hunters approached, the statement said. Vang said the hunters surrounded him, and some started calling him racial slurs.

Vang said he started walking away but looked back to see the first hunter point his rifle at him and then fire a shot that hit the ground 30 to 40 feet behind him, the statement said.

That's when Vang told investigators he started firing at the group, and some fell to the ground and others tried to run away, according to the statement.

the above seems "more true" to me than the following....

"The suspect got down from the deer stand, walked 40 yards, fiddled with his rifle. He took the scope off his rifle, he turned and he opened fire on the group," Meier said.

Why would he stop and take the scope off? He was "getting away" but decided to stop, fiddle with his rifle and take the scope off, and then open fire on a group of people 40 yards away, one of who has a rifle??

I'm not trying to excuse his killing 6 people, but I'm right now leaning toward believing the suspect's version of things. :shrug: