Warrants say elderly man shot pistol at son-in-law in an attempt to kill him

An elderly Ennice resident has been charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill after allegedly discharging a firearm in the direction of his son-in-law last Friday.

Kenneth Omar Bedsaul, 78, of Vaughn Road in Ennice is charged with shooting a small-caliber pistol at Dennis Eastridge, who is married to Bedsaul's daughter, Carolyn Eastridge.

According to Capt. Carlton Edwards of the Alleghany County Sheriff's Department, the incident was the culmination of an ongoing family dispute. Edwards said that Bedsaul is also being charged with second degree trespassing in relation to the incident for remaining on Eastridge's property, also on Vaughn Road, after being told to leave. According to the report, Bedsaul arrived at the home of the Eastridges, where Mr. Eastridge was working in his lawn with a string trimmer. Bedsaul approached and told Eastridge, 'I need to talk to you.'

When Eastridge turned off his weedeater, he heard a gunshot and noticed that his father-in-law had a pistol in his hand.

Eastridge then struck Bedsaul with the trimmer just as he fired another shot.

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