Two Vernal men fight over gun; one man shot in the toe

VERNAL — A fight over a gun between two Vernal men Monday ended with one man shot in the foot and both men arrested.

Investigators say Brian James Miller, 20, had been hunting prairie dogs in a field when Benjamin Watkins came up from behind and discharged a .30-30-caliber rifle to get Miller to give up his .22-caliber rifle.

When Watkins, 23, attempted to take the rifle, the two men started fighting. After being thrown to the ground, Miller was able to get up and leave the field, said Uintah County Undersheriff John Laursen.

Watkins then got into his truck and acted as if he would run Miller over, so the young man grabbed a .20-caliber pistol and fired two rounds at the driver's side of the truck, Laursen said.

Watkins allegedly exited the truck and told Miller to shoot him in the chest. Miller then shot a bullet into the ground, apparently to scare the other man, Laursen said. The bullet hit a rock, ricocheted and hit Watkins in his left big toe.

The victim was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was treated and later released. Both men were booked into Uintah County Jail for investigation of aggravated assault.

Laursen said neither man had consumed alcohol and it was just "they both wanted the same gun."

— Lana Groves