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Bride & Groom Recovering After Wedding Shooting

Reported by: David Goins
Email: dgoins@fox16.com
Last Update: 5/27/2008 8:49 am
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A bride and groom are in fair condition at UAMS after getting shot at their outdoor wedding Saturday night.  A gunman opened fire on the wedding party injuring four beside Piney Creek north of Dover.  The family of newlyweds Michael Beavers, 40, and Melissa Smith, 35, tells FOX16 News, alcohol and an argument over dogs led to the shooting.

Chris Beavers is the brother of the groom.  "These people, we didn't even know them," Beavers says.

Chris Smith is son of the bride.  "I thought my mom was dead, I thought my new step dad was dead," Smith said Monday.

Both watched from the banks of the Piney Creek as Michael Beavers and Melissa Smith exchanged vows Saturday night.

Shortly after, police say Patrick Duvall, 29, shot the newlyweds.  He fled in a stolen truck.  Duvall was arrested a short time later at a fast food joint in Russellville.  He’s charged so far with four counts of felony first degree battery and theft of a vehicle.

"The boy didn't have any reason to be shooting at my brother like he did,” Chris Beavers says.  “There was no reason for him to do that."

Beavers says his brother brought his pit bull to the ceremony.  He says the shooter had a dog too

Goins says: "Were there words exchanged?"  Chris Beavers says: "Yeah, we were arguing over it."  Goins says: "What was the argument over?"  Beavers says: "The dogs I guess."  Goins says: "I like your dog?  Your dog is ugly?  What are we arguing over?"  Beavers says: "I don't know, I don't know."

But Smith does know one thing.

Goins says: "So a bride and groom were shot over a dog?"  Chris Smith says: "Yes, that's exactly what it was."

Police have questioned over 30 witnesses so far.

"All my nephews, nieces all of them were out there,” Beavers says.  “And you got this idiot with a gun."

The bride underwent brain surgery and is recovering.

"Amazingly she's up and talking,” her son says.  “She remembers everything up to the gunshot.  They said she's going to be fine."

And her new husband is expected to be fine too.

Pope County Sheriff's investigators will meet with the county prosecutor tomorrow to go over details of the case and decide on formal charges.  Duvall is due in court for a first appearance on Wednesday.
Copyright 2008 Newport Television LLC All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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