Cotanay/DNSO

A 35-year-old man is facing attempted murder charges after he allegedly shot a neighbor in the chest during an altercation that became violent Sunday.

Del Norte County Sheriff’s deputies were called to the scene at the 1600 block of Del Mar Road at about 7:43 p.m. and arrived to find the victim with a chest injury, according to DNSO Lt. Daniel Schneck.

Deputies found the suspect, Gordan Ray Cotanay, at his home a few doors down and took him into custody without incident, Schneck told the Wild Rivers Outpost.

The victim was transported to the hospital via ambulance, Schneck said.

According to Schneck, the altercation between Cotanay and the victim was initially verbal.

“It turned physical resulting in Cotanay gettig a firearm and shooting the other subject,” Schneck said. “The person got shot in the chest and was taken to the hospital to seek medical treatment.”

According to Schneck, Cotanay told deputies that the victim had punched him in the face.

Cotanay was booked into the Del Norte County Jail on charges of assault with a firearm on a person, attempted murder, battery with serious bodily injury, possession of a short-barreled rifle or shotgun and felony possession of a firearm. His bail is currently set at $250,000.

The case was turned over to the Del Norte County District Attorney’s Office, according to Schneck.

The Crescent City Police Department, California Highway Patrol, Del Norte Ambulance and Crescent Fire & Rescue also responded to the scene, Schneck said.

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