RAYMONDVILLE — A long-standing family feud broke out in gunfire outside of town, sending a man with two bullet wounds to a hospital.
Steve Hommel, 57, was expected to undergo surgery after his brother shot him yesterday, Willacy County Sheriff Larry Spence said.
Spence said Hommel faces two counts of attempted murder, burglary with intent to do bodily harm and violation of a protective order.
Hommel’s brother apparently shot him after the two exchanged gunfire at about 6:30 a.m. in the family home off FM 186 west of Raymondville, Spence said.
Hommel used a key to enter the home after his family filed a protective order to keep him out of the house, Spence said.
“He was going from room to room,” Spence said.
Spence said Hommel’s brother shot him twice.
“He claims he saw him raise a rifle barrel,” Spence said of the brother’s account of the shooting.
“He felt threatened enough where he had a weapon close by and started firing.”
Wounded, Hommel fled the home, running outside toward another brother’s house, Spence said.
Then, he said, Hommel traded gunfire with his other brother. None were injured in that exchange.
Hommel planned the break-in, Spence said.
“It’s kind of pre-meditated,” he said.
At the scene, he said, deputies arrested Hommel for violating his protective order.
Hommel was expected to undergo surgery at a hospital believed to be Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen.
“I think he’s surviving,” Spence said. “I don’t think he’s critical. From what I heard, he was talking before the operation.”
