An elderly man injured in what police say was an argument over grass clippings has died, and the charge against an Iowa Park man jailed in connection with the injury may be upgraded.
William Palmer, 78, died Wednesday at a hospital from a head injury he suffered on Tuesday.
Connor Allen Duncan was charged with injury to a child, elderly or disabled person and was being held in Wichita County Jail Thursday in lieu of a $250,000 bond, according to online jail records.
According to allegations in an arrest affidavit, Wichita Falls police were called to an address in the 4800 block of Earl Street where they found Palmer lying in the street with an injury to the back of his head.
A witness identified Duncan as a man doing yard work at an address next door to Palmer’s house.
The witness said Duncan was in his truck when Palmer approached and knocked on the window.
He told police he saw Duncan get out of the truck and shove Palmer down, describing the sound of the man’s head hitting the street as “a 13-pound sledgehammer hitting concrete,” according to allegations.
The witness said Duncan left the scene.
The affidavit said when officers talked to Duncan, he told them Palmer had become upset about grass clippings being blown onto his property and “was in my face.”
Duncan said he reacted “somewhat explosively” and admitted shoving the older man, according to allegations in the affidavit.
WFPD said in a news release Palmer’s body was sent for an autopsy and the department’s Crimes Against Persons detectives are coordinating with the Wichita County District Attorney’s office on possibly filing an upgraded charge against Duncan.
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This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Elderly Wichitan dead after confrontation with a lawn care man
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