Man Allegedly Shoots Neighbor Over Puppy Peeing On The Lawn

By Marcus Gilmer in News on May 13, 2010 2:40PM

In a story mentioned it in Extra, Extra yesterday but felt needed a bit more delving into, a University Park man has been charged with first- and second-degree murder for shooting a neighbor, all because of a dog peed on his lawn. Charles J. Clements, 69, was apparently known for taking the "Get off my lawn!" cry to extremes to protect his beautification award-winning lawn. But he allegedly took that dedication too far when he shot Joshua Funches, 23, for allowing a dog - reportedly a fox terrier - to urinate on Clements' yard on Sunday night. Clements confronted Funches over the incident and the two began arguing. According to the Tribune:

The two men began arguing, and at some point, Clements, a retired truck driver, pulled out a pistol and pointed it at Funches, a Crete-Monee High School graduate who drove a bus, said Will County Assistant State's Attorney Sondra Denmark.

Witnesses said Funches then said to Clements, "Next time you pull out a pistol, why don't you use it?" Denmark said. At that point, witnesses said they saw orange and white light and heard a loud noise. They saw Funches fall to the ground.

According to neighbors, Clements had a history of threatening people for walking on his grass, but they were still shocked things went this far.

"You couldn't imagine something like this happening, so I don't know just, whether he snapped or was it provoked or maybe there is something we don't know about," said neighbor Lloyd Allison.

"A long time ago I walked on the grass," said neighbor Lishawn Byers. "I was on the cell phone and I didn't know I stepped on the grass and he came out and said, 'watch it.' And I just said, 'I live right across the street. I've been living here. My bad, sir.' You know? That's just how he is about his grass."

After the shooting, we went into his house and changed clothes, telling police when they arrived, "I knew you were coming for me. That's why I changed my clothes. I knew you were coming for me." Police also recovered a .45-caliber handgun they believe was used in the incident. Clements is being held on $3 million bond and has a June 1 court date scheduled.