Man arrested after Soap Mine Road shooting
Suspect said victim threatened him with a hoe
BARSTOW • Sheriff’s deputies arrested a Barstow man who reportedly shot a woman in the arm Saturday after she threatened him with a gardening hoe.
George Foote, 71, was booked on suspicion of attempted murder in connection with the shooting of 48-year-old Theresa Stores. He was being held on $500,000 bail at the West Valley Detention Center as of Monday.
Foote allegedly shot Theresa Stores, 48, at his house on the 31000 block of Soap Mine Road, according to a Barstow sheriff’s station report. The two were not involved in a relationship, but Stores was staying with Foote at the time, Sgt. Steve Harbottle said.
Stores called 911 at 2:23 p.m. Saturday afternoon to report that she had been shot and that a friend was going to take her to the hospital. At Barstow Community Hospital, she told deputies that a man named George had shot her with a shotgun, according to the sheriff’s report.
The victim was later airlifted to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center for further treatment. Harbottle did not have an update on her condition Monday but said that Stores had been shot in the arm and the wound was not life-threatening.
Foote returned home after deputies arrived at the house on Soap Mine Road. He initially told investigators that he heard a gunshot behind the house and then Stores came to him and said that she had been shot, according to the report. After further investigation, however, he reportedly told deputies that he had shot Stores in self defense after she threatened him with a hoe.
Foote told deputies that he had driven Stores to the hospital. Blood found in his car backed up the statement, Harbottle said. Investigators took a loaded 12-gauge shotgun found in Foote’s gun safe as evidence
Harbottle said that alcohol was a possible factor in the shooting. Foote had no previous criminal record in San Bernardino County.
He was arrested at 4:30 p.m. Saturday afternoon and was scheduled to be arraigned at the Barstow courthouse Tuesday.
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