MIDDLETOWN — Police responded to 17 Elm Street at approximately 10:30 p.m. July 27 to investigate a reported shooting.
Officers found Jerry Sweeney, 46, suffering from a gunshot wound.
Sweeney was transported to the hospital where he underwent emergency surgery.
Police also located Arnie Clark, 43, at the scene, who was accused of shooting Sweeney.
Detectives from the Middletown Police Major Investigations Unit determined the incident began earlier in the evening when Clark and Sweeney engaged in an argument on social media.
The argument led to the two agreeing to an in-person fight at Clark’s residence.
Sweeney brought a hatchet to the fight, which was countered by Clark bringing a handgun.
Upon Sweeney’s arrival at the Elm Street residence, he and Clark faced off in a fist fight in the driveway.
At some point during the interaction, both the hatchet and handgun were presented, at which point Clark shot Sweeney.
Through evidence collected on scene, witness statements and statements of those involved, detectives obtained arrest warrants for both Clark and Sweeney.
Clark was arrested and charged with first-degree assault, criminal possession of a pistol, altering/removing identification marks on a firearm, unlawful discharge of a firearm and first-degree reckless endangerment.
He was released after posting a court-set $200,000 surety bond and issued a court date of Sept. 15.
Sweeney was arrested and charged with second-degree threatening, third-degree assault and second-degree breach of peace.
He was held on a $75,000 surety bond and presented at G.A.9 on Sept. 8.
