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Police: No Charges In Fatal Bear Hunting Shooting

Posted: 8:04 am EST November 25, 2009Updated: 2:36 pm EST December 10, 2009

State police said they won't charge a Jefferson County bear hunter who shot and killed a property owner who first shot him during an argument about trespassing.

State police in Punxsutawney said the shooting of Frank Shaffer, 63, of Red Lion, was justified.

Police said Shaffer confronted five hunters on property he owns in Summerville and ordered them off his land. They left, but a short time later, he confronted three of them again in another area and shot Paul Plyler, 23, of Summerville, in the hand, police said.

Shaffer shot three more times, striking Plyler in the back. Plyler then fired back, hitting Shaffer once.

"From what side to who, who shot first -- they're going through that process to try to determine it," Trooper Bruce Morris said early in the investigation.

Morris described the scene of the shooting as very remote.

According to the York Dispatch, Shaffer previously had his concealed weapon permit revoked then returned.

The newspaper said Shaffer pulled a gun on a trucker after each believed the other cut him off in 2006.

Charges against Shaffer were dropped when the trucker didn't show at Shaffer's preliminary hearing.

The York County sheriff revoked Shaffer's permit, but a judge ordered it be reinstated.

Shaffer, a real estate appraiser, had said he needed a weapon for protection while working in dangerous neighborhoods.



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