Shots fired between Bella Vista family members leaves one critical

BELLA VISTA — A dispute between family members at a home in the Bella Vista area ended with family members shooting at each other Wednesday evening, April, 10. One of those involved in the shooting was later hospitalized with critical injuries after his brother shot him, in what officials have since called an act of self defense.

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Shasta County sheriff’s deputies responded to the 21800 block of Squaw Grass Trail shortly after 9 p.m., after receiving reports of a family disturbance, Shasta County Sheriff’s Sgt. Chris Edwards later reported. While they were still headed to the location, deputies were notified that shots had been fired at the residence.

When deputies arrived they found a man, later identified as Joshua Snyder, 35, inside the open garage of the residence. He was suffering from several gunshot wounds to his torso, according to Edwards, who said the man was rushed to an area hospital with potentially life-threatening injuries.

Deputies interviewed several family members who were at the home when the verbal disagreement spiraled out of control and learned that prior to their arrival, Joshua brandished a pistol at his mother, Renee Young. Joshua then fired one round at his mother, but the round did not hit anyone at the residence.

After hearing the gunshot, Joshua’s brother, Jeffrey Snyder – who lives on the same property – armed himself with a firearm and came to the home’s garage to see who was shooting. The two brothers came face to face inside the garage, at which time Joshua pointed the handgun he had just used to shoot at his mother at Jeffrey.

“Fearing that Joshua was going to shoot him, Jeffrey fired several rounds at his brother,” Edwards explained. “Jeffrey was not arrested as it appears he was acting in self-defense.”

Joshua remains hospitalized and is listed in critical condition and criminal charges are being sought against him, according to the Sgt., who said the case remains under active investigation.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is urged to contact Shasta County Sheriff’s Office at (530) 245-6540. Callers can refer to incident file number 19S013337 and remain anonymous.

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Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, 47, moved last year to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for several other news organizations; including Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News, The Valley Chronicle, and Anza Valley Outlook; as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County and Mountain Echo in Shasta County.

Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back, and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s accident.)

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations; including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center, and Lake Elsinore Station; along with other locations.

Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.

Trevor has been married for more than 28 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and his “fluid family” includes 13 children and 15 – but soon to be 16 – grandchildren.