Dispute turns deadly

Amarillo.com | Local News: Dispute turns deadly 10/09/07

Amarillo man dies in shooting

By Dan Packard
dan.packard@amarillo.com

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Ernest Dill said he heard the gunshot that killed a 46-year-old Amarillo man Sunday.

"I was in my bedroom watching TV when I heard something go off," Dill said Monday. "I didn't know what it was. I thought something just popped. I didn't think it was a gun."

Dill said he walked out of his residence in the 6800 block of Cleon Court about 4 p.m. to investigate the noise and saw a man lying on the sidewalk at his neighbors' house to the south.

Amarillo police found Calvin Farmer, a former Pampa firefighter, suffering from a single gunshot wound to the lower torso. He was transported to Northwest Texas Hospital, where he died at 5:41 p.m., according to police.

Police said Farmer went to the house and confronted the homeowner. A fight between the two ensued and the homeowner pulled a semi-automatic handgun and shot Farmer, police reported.

Potter-Randall Special Crimes Unit Coordinator Lt. Gary Trupe on Monday said Farmer went to the residence to confront the homeowner over an issue involving Farmer's ex-wife, who was at the scene.

"We're still trying to put together all the pieces," Trupe said.

After conferring with Randall County Assistant District Attorney Robert Love, the homeowner was released without being charged, pending further investigation and presentation of the case to a Randall County grand jury, Trupe said.

The homeowner, who police did not identify, received injuries during the fight and sought medical treatment, Trupe said.

"In some aspects, we believe self-defense was involved," Trupe said. "Until we know for sure, we're not willing to make an arrest and charge anybody."

Ray Dill, who lives on Cleon Court with his wife, Elizabeth Dill, and Ernest Dill, his brother, said he was en route from Dallas when the shooting happened.

He does not know his neighbors at the house in southwest Amarillo where the shooting occurred, he said.

"They just moved in maybe two months ago. I've seen them but I've never really been introduced to them," Ray Dill said.

Elizabeth Dill said she was shocked when she heard about the shooting.

"It's always quiet around here," she said. "Nothing like this has ever happened."

The shooting marked Amarillo's 12th homicide of the year, compared to 11 in 2006 and 13 in 2005.

"In 2003, we had 23," Trupe said.

"It fluctuates from year to year. It's one of those statistics you can't estimate because you never know when someone is going to get mad, when something will happen that causes them to use deadly force for some reason."