BUTTE — A Butte man accused of using a crossbow to shoot an arrow into another man’s chest in late February said he did so in self-defense.
Joshua Michael Ott, 28, pleaded not guilty Wednesday to attempted deliberate homicide, The Montana Standard reports. Ott remains jailed with his bail set at $100,000.
The victim told investigators he went to Ott’s house on Feb. 28 to retrieve some belongings and that he brought an ax with him because he thought a bedroom door would be locked and he might need to break in.
The victim said Ott opened the door, the men exchanged words and then Ott shot him in the chest. A woman who accompanied the victim to the house backed his version of events, but another woman told investigators that the victim threatened to kill her and Ott with the ax.
After the shooting, the victim said he pulled the arrow out, hit the wall with the ax and staggered to the living room. He was hospitalized in intensive care, but has recovered. He initially declined to cooperate with the investigation.
Ott called police on Feb. 29 and said he used the crossbow in self-defense. He was arrested on March 5 in Missoula.