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He allegedly just wanted to shoot his dog. But when Alan Askwith pulled his pistol and opened fire, he also wounded his wife, the Utah Highway Patrol claims.
On Wednesday, the 29-year-old Richfield man was being held at the Utah County jail in lieu of $10,000 bail on suspicion of numerous charges, among them felony discharge of a firearm, possession of a firearm by a restricted person, driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol and cruelty to animals.
UHP Corporal Todd Johnson said the shooting took place somewhere on southbound Interstate 15 in southern Utah County last Friday.
"For some unknown reason, the driver decided to shoot the dog and also hit the female passenger in the lower leg. He then threw the gun out the window and drove on to the hospital in Juab County," Johnson said.
Initially, the dog — a 115-pound pit bull, named "Arby" — was thought to have died from the gunshot wound. However, Askwith's defense attorney, Clayton Simms of Salt Lake City, said Wednesday afternoon that his client reports the wounded animal was picked up by relatives, had been treated and was expected to recover.
Simms said Askwith told him that he shot the animal when it began snarling. Askwith then pulled over and dumped the dog on I-15, and "in shock" then tossed his handgun out of his SUV as well.
Simms said that at the time of the incident Askwith was concerned the pit bull posed a risk to his wife, and to three children sitting in the back of his vehicle.
Johnson said that it was while at Central Valley Hospital in Nephi that Askwith drew the interest of a UHP trooper, who was at the medical facility on another matter. After learning what happened, the trooper arrested Askwith after a brief foot chase, and he was booked into jail Friday afternoon.
The woman was treated at the hospital for her wound, which was not life-threatening, Johnson said.
The UHP recovered what it believes was the suspect's firearm and is awaiting ballistic tests.