Published: December 05, 2006 01:13 am         

Fatal domestic incident act of self-defense

ACCIDENT — Police said that the fatal shooting of an Indiana County, Pa., man early Sunday in Accident apparently was the result of self-defense.

Lt. J.D. Murphy of the Garrett Bureau of Investigation said that 29-year-old David Wayne Lancaster of Saltsburg died at Garrett Memorial Hospital in Oakland after he was shot three times with a .22-caliber handgun fired by Norris Rush, 52.

The shooting occurred at 4:31 a.m. in the kitchen of the Rush residence on Friendsville Road after Lancaster grabbed a butcher knife and inflicted a deep wound to Rush’s hand. Rush then discharged the handgun at close range, striking the victim in the stomach and chest.

Rush reportedly declined medical treatment at the scene.

Police said Billie Jo Zimmerman was also present at the time of the shooting and that all three people appeared to be “extremely intoxicated.” Lancaster, Rush and Zimmerman were said to be friends.

Zimmerman was not injured.

Police said there was no record of prior domestic complaints at the Rush residence.

Maryland State Police responded to the scene and following preliminary investigation, the case was forwarded to GBI.

The incident remains under investigation.