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06/07/2012

1 Arrested, 1 Hospitalized After Domestic Incident Turns To Gunfire In Coal Hill

One person was arrested and one hospitalized after a domestic incident led to two persons firing shots at each other from shotguns in Coal Hill.

The incident occured at the Rodney Krachey residence at the corner of Highway 64 and Kinney Street at approximately 2:30 a.m. on Thursday, June 7.


According to witnesses, Rodney Krachey discovered a 13-year old male near his mobile home, attempting to make contact with a 14 year-old female in the residence.  Krachey ordered the male off the property and after his refusal to leave, a physical altercation began.

The 13 year-old left the residence and Krachey thought he entered a rock building on the property where Krachey's 18 year-old step-son, Matthew Blake Smith was living.

Krachey then went to the rock building where a confrontation occured between Krachey, Smith and two other persons in the residence.  Krachey ordered everyone to leave the property. 

As Smith was carrying his belongings toward Kinney Street, Krachey fired a shot into the air with a shotgun he had retreived from his mobile home.  Smith, who was carrying his own shotgun, fired toward Krachey but hit a truck sitting in the yard.

Smith began walking east on Highway 64 and when he appeared between two buildings, Krachey fired the shotgun again, striking Smith in the upper torso, neck and head.

Smith was airlifted to Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville.

Krachey was arrested at the scene.  He is charged with Battery 2nd Degree, Possession of a Firearm By Certain Persons (Felon in Possession), and two counts of Battery 3rd Degree. 

Units of the Johnson County Sheriff's Office, Coal Hill Police Department and First Responders from the Coal Hill Fire Department responded to the incident.

Krachey will have a bond hearing tomorrow on the charges.