Irishman shot dead in US property feud

A LONG-RUNNING feud between two property owners in the US ended in bloodshed when an Irishman was apparently shot dead after he rammed his tractor through his neighbour’s gate

John Michael O’Sullivan, 47, originally from Co Kerry, was shot dead in Fiddletown, Amador County, 72km from Sacramento.

Police arrested O’Sullivan’s neighbour, Kenneth John Zimmerman, 56, on suspicion of murder.

Zimmerman called police to tell them O’Sullivan, had broken through his gate on a tractor. He said O’Sullivan had struck him in the face and attempted to run him over with the tractor.

He ended his phone call saying the sheriff’s office better hurry and get there “before I shoot him”.

Exactly 13 minutes after Zimmerman’s call, O’Sullivan’s wife, Krista Clem, telephoned police, saying she’d heard gunshots and couldn’t find her husband.

When police arrived on the scene, Zimmerman said O’Sullivan was near the gate he’d driven through and the gun he’d fired was in his house.

The officers discovered O’Sullivan dead on his tractor. Zimmerman was arrested on suspicion of murder and is being held without bail.

Mr O’Sullivan is survived by his wife, Krista, and their five children.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said it has been in touch with Mr O’Sullivan’s family.

His brother, Alan, said the family in Ireland did not know what had happened and some travelling to the US.