AHOSKIE – An argument between neighbors escalated into violence here in the early morning hours of April 12, leading to the arrest of one local man.

Jeffrey Leonard Mabine, 47, of 345 Newsome Grove Road, Ahoskie, was taken into custody after he was released from the hospital for a cut on his elbow suffered during an altercation with a neighbor, 52-year-old Albert Williams of 351 Newsome Grove Road.

“The two got into a disagreement, which led to Mr. Mabine pulling out a knife and threatening Mr. Williams on his (Williams) property,” stated Hertford County Sheriff Juan Vaughan. “Mr. Williams retaliated by throwing a bottle at Mr. Mabine, apparently striking him on the elbow and resulting in a cut that required stitches at the hospital.”

Things became even more heated at that point, according to the Sheriff.

“Mr. Williams walked away from the altercation, thinking it was over, and went and sat down under a shed in his yard,” Vaughan said. “However, Mr. Mabine returned, this time with a rifle. Upon seeing his neighbor with a firearm, Mr. Williams got up and fled, but while he was running Mr. Mabine fired a shot, striking Mr. Williams in the lower left leg.”

Although wounded, Vaughan said Williams continued to flee, eluding the shooter by hiding in a shed in the yard of a neighbor.

“Mr. Williams called us for help, and so did the neighbor who owned the property where Mr. Williams was hiding,” Vaughan stated. “That neighbor eventually got to Mr. Williams and started to take him to the hospital at which time they met (Hertford County) EMS who wound up completing the transport.”

Vaughan said Mabine was later arrested near his residence by HCSO Sgt.ScottCofield and Deputy Isaaii Williams. He was charged with assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Mabine was jailed under a $40,000 bond and made his first court appearance on April 15.