Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
CENTERVILLE — A man who was shot while working in his yard by his neighbor remains in life-threatening condition, according to police.
Tony Pierce, 41, was working in his yard Sunday, 555 N. 400 West, when his neighbor, unprovoked, fired at him multiple times, shooting him once in the back and once in the leg, according to Centerville police.
"The bullet traveled through his body after entering his back and hitting several vital organs. The bullet also hit the sack around his heart," said Centerville Police Lt. Paul Child.
The incident happened just before 5 p.m. Sunday.
"He came running around the back of the house screaming, ‘Chris, Chris, help me! I've been shot,'" said neighbor Chris Hight.
Michael Selleneit, 53, was booked into the Davis County Jail for investigation of attempted murder and being a restricted person in possession of a firearm. A semi-automatic handgun was recovered from the scene.
Selleneit reportedly believed that Pierce was trying to get him and his wife on drugs or trying to have sexual relations with his wife, Child said.
"Centerville police have never found any evidence to indicate that these allegations were true," he said.
For several years, police have received multiple complaints from Selleneit and his wife that a "Tony" and a former neighbor were harassing them. None of the complaints were true, according to police.
Selleneit was a restricted person because of a felony conviction in 1990 of forcible sex abuse of a child. Court records indicate that Selleneit pleaded guilty but mentally ill to an amended charge of attempted sexual abuse of a child. He was given a suspended prison sentence and instead sent to the Utah State Hospital.
In 2001, Selleneit was twice charged with disorderly conduct. One case was dismissed. He pleaded no contest in the other case. Among the conditions of his probation, he was ordered to "stay on medication" and "don't shout at anyone," court records state.
----
Written by Pat Reavy with contributions from Shara Park.
