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Fredonia, Ariz. • The first sign something was wrong may have been footprints on a basement floor and Andy Carman's missing rifle.

Carman has been friends with Scott Curley, both 23 years old, since the pair were in kindergarten. And now it appears that Curley stole Carman's rifle. Police say Curley then used it to kill Kane County sheriff's Deputy Brian Harris.

"I'm a little hurt over the gun because I really liked the gun, but I'm more concerned about the health and safety of the law enforcement officers," Carman said. "I still care for Scott and don't want him to get hurt anymore than I want the law enforcement officers to get hurt."

Carman called Curley a smart yet quiet boy growing up. So quiet, other kids would pick on him, Carman said.

Carman's father, Kevin Carman, said Curley would visit their home because it was a "safe place" from other children.

"He was smarter than most of them," Kevin Carman said.

Andy Carman said Curley had an extensive vocabulary and would have to explain things twice to him. When he and Curley wanted to throw eggs at someone's house, Curley would plan at least a week in advance the number of eggs and a route to and from the house.

Curley's aunt and uncle raised him; Andy Carman said they were always loving to Curley.

Carman moved from Fredonia when he was in the sixth grade and did not return until about three years ago. He looked up Curley.

Curley was much the same kid as when he knew him years ago, though he cussed more, Carman said. Curley used to attend an Assembly of God church in Fredonia with his family, then quit, Carman said. He had broken an oath to God, Carman said. "The only thing he would tell me is he promised God he would never drink again and he did," he said.

Carman took his Bible to speak with Curley, to convince him God had not forsaken him. He stopped when Curley stopped showing interest, he said.

About three months ago, Curley was visiting Andy Carman's home in Fredonia. In a cabinet in the basement, Andy Carman has a small collection of rifles. There's a rifle Andy Carman bought from his father-in-law, who works as a corrections officer at the Kane County jail. It's a .223-caliber AR-15 rifle with a 24-power scope. That's the only gun Curley asked to see. Carman let him hold it and look through the scope. "He said, 'That's a cool gun' and then he put it back," Carman said.

That was the last time Carman saw his friend.

This week, Carman and his wife had been trying to catch a snake in their basement and put flour on the floor so they could track it. About 8 p.m. Wednesday, Andy Carman's wife and father-in-law went into the basement and saw footprints in the flour and noticed the missing AR-15. Carman thinks Curley stole the rifle, a five-round magazine and a 30-round magazine. In all, Carman said, Curley took 12 bullets.

"He's so smart and so intelligent," Carman said. "He wouldn't do anything like that without a plan."